Naturally selected CD7 CAR T cell therapy for T-lineage malignancies, CD4+ T cell exhaustion and PD-L1 inhibition in B-ALL, and tPA-induced phosphorylation of occludin in stroke

In this week’s episode we review a novel approach to generating autologous CD7-specific CAR T therapy for patients with T-cell malignancies that overcomes a key limitation: target-driven fratricide. We’ll also learn about new research pinpointing a key subset of exhausted CD4+ T cells in B- ALL, which also provides a rationale for combining tyrosine kinase inhibitors and PD-L1 blockers to reverse exhaustion and enhance leukemia clearance. Finally, we’ll discuss studies in a mouse model of acute ischemic stroke, showing that inhibiting phosphorylation of a tight junction protein in endothelial cells reduces risk of intracranial hemorrhage after treatment with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator.