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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2021 Jun 17.
Published in final edited form as: J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019 Dec 24;74(25):3153–3163. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2019.10.049

Figure 1. Mechanism of CAR T-cell therapy and Cytokine Release Syndrome.

Figure 1.

This figure illustrates stepwise mechanism of CAR T-cell therapy and related CRS.

1. White blood cells are drawn from the patient via leukapheresis. T cells are then separated in the Lab. 2. T cells are genetically modified or “engineered” with viral or nonviral vector inserting a gene encoding a chimeric antigen receptor into the T cells. 3. Engineered T cells, now known as CAR T cells, can recognize and attach to the specific antigen on the cancer cells. 4. CAR T cells are grown and multiplied in the bioreactor to create millions of copies. 5. Before the CAR T cells are administered, the patient receives preconditioning chemotherapy to lower the cell count to allow space for the incoming CAR T cells. 6. CAR T cells are infused back into the patient’s blood where they proliferate, detect and destroy the tumor cells. 7. CRS occurs as a result of the supraphysiologic levels of inflammatory cytokines released by the activated CAR T-cells and other immune cells such as macrophages.

Abbreviations: Ang-2: Angiopoetin 2; CAR: chimeric antigen receptor; IL: interleukin; IFN-γ: interferon gamma; MCP1: Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1; TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor alpha; vWF: von Willebrand factor.