[Comment] Exploring CAR NK-cell therapy for refractory lupus

00:00 - 12 Nov 2025

The treatment landscape for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has shifted greatly in recent years, driven by the emergence of cell-based immunotherapies targeting pathogenic B-cell populations. Among these, autologous CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has shown promise in inducing remission in patients with severe treatment-refractory SLE.1 This innovation addresses a substantial global burden of disease, with epidemiological data estimating more than 3·4 million individuals affected worldwide;2,3 notably, in an Asia–Pacific cohort study, at least 14% of patients were identified as having severe refractory disease.