A groundbreaking preclinical study has revealed that CAR T cell therapy, best known for treating cancer, could also be a powerful tool against atherosclerosis. Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania demonstrated that engineered CAR T Therapy cells successfully reduced arterial inflammation in mice, preventing more than two-thirds of the plaque buildup found in untreated animals. The study was published in Circulation.
Transforming Heart Disease Treatment
Atherosclerosis, a major driver of heart attacks and strokes, is fueled by chronic inflammation. Current therapies lower cholesterol but do not directly target inflammatory pathways. Atherosclerosis, which fuels heart attacks and strokes, is driven by chronic inflammation. Yet current therapies only lower cholesterol and do not address inflammatory pathways. Previous attempts to target inflammation in clinical trials have largely failed.
Co-author Dr. Daniel Rader noted that using CAR T cells to target oxidized LDL (OxLDL)—a major driver of arterial inflammation—may offer a valuable complement to existing cholesterol-lowering therapies.
Engineering CAR Tregs to Reduce Inflammation
While traditional CAR T therapies activate the immune system to attack cancer cells, the Penn team used regulatory T cells (Tregs) to suppress harmful inflammation. Scientists engineered these award-winning immune cells, recognized with the 2025 Nobel Prize. They programmed them to seek out OxLDL and trigger an anti-inflammatory response.
As reported by medicalxpress, lead author Dr. Robert Schwab emphasized that OxLDL sparks the inflammatory cascade that initiates atherosclerosis. By directing CAR Tregs toward this molecule, the researchers effectively halted disease progression.
Striking Preclinical Results
In mouse models with high cholesterol, anti-OxLDL CAR Tregs cut plaque formation by about 70% in twelve weeks. They did so without impairing normal immune function. Encouraged by these results, Penn researchers have launched Cartio Therapeutics to advance the therapy toward human trials.
A New Frontier in Cardio-Oncology
Given the overlap between cancer, inflammation, and heart disease, researchers believe this innovation could benefit millions—including cancer survivors at heightened cardiovascular risk. As Posey noted, adapting cancer immunotherapy for heart disease represents a promising new chapter in precision medicine.