In a groundbreaking development, researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) have successfully demonstrated a method to reliably produce helper T cells from stem cells in a controlled laboratory setting. This achievement, published today in the journal Cell Stem Cell, addresses a significant barrier in the development and production of cell therapies, potentially leading to more accessible and cost-effective treatments for conditions such as cancer, infectious diseases, and autoimmune disorders.
The findings promise to revolutionize the field of engineered cell therapies, which have already shown dramatic results in treating otherwise untreatable diseases. By reprogramming human immune cells to recognize and attack illness, these therapies effectively transform the cells into ‘living drugs’. However, the complexity and expense of current cell therapies have limited their accessibility worldwide.
The Promise and Challenge of Living Drugs
Engineered cell therapies, including CAR-T treatments for cancer, have been hailed as transformative in modern medicine. These therapies involve reprogramming a patient’s own immune cells, a process that is both time-consuming and expensive. According to Dr. Peter Zandstra, co-senior author of the study and director of the UBC School of Biomedical Engineering, the new method of producing helper T cells from stem cells could address these challenges.
“Engineered cell therapies are transforming modern medicine,” said Dr. Zandstra. “This study addresses one of the biggest challenges in making these lifesaving treatments accessible to more people, showing for the first time a reliable and scalable way to grow multiple immune cell types.”
Helper T cells, alongside killer T cells, are crucial for effective cell therapies. While killer T cells directly attack infected or cancerous cells, helper T cells act as conductors of the immune system, detecting threats and activating other immune cells. The ability to produce both types of cells from stem cells marks a significant step forward in the field.
A Big Step Toward Stem Cell-Grown Therapies
In their study, the UBC team discovered that a developmental signal known as Notch plays a critical role in determining whether stem cells develop into helper or killer T cells. By precisely controlling this signal, researchers were able to guide stem cells to become either type of T cell in a laboratory setting, a crucial step toward real-world biomanufacturing.
“By precisely tuning when and how much this signal is reduced, we were able to direct stem cells to become either helper or killer T cells,” explained Dr. Ross Jones, a research associate in the Zandstra Lab. “We were able to do this in controlled laboratory conditions that are directly applicable in real-world biomanufacturing.”
The lab-grown helper T cells not only resembled genuine immune cells but also behaved like them, displaying markers of healthy mature cells and a diverse range of immune receptors. This breakthrough suggests that these cells could have significant therapeutic potential in the future.
Implications and Future Directions
The ability to generate both helper and killer T cells—and control the balance between them—could significantly enhance the efficacy of stem cell-grown immune therapies. Dr. Zandstra emphasized the potential of this technology to form the foundation for new clinical applications, including the development of regulatory T cells derived from helper T cells.
“This is a major step forward in our ability to develop scalable and affordable immune cell therapies,” said Dr. Zandstra. “This technology now forms the foundation for testing the role of helper T cells in supporting the elimination of cancer cells and generating new types of helper T cell-derived cells for clinical applications.”
As researchers continue to explore the potential of stem cell-grown therapies, the implications of this study could extend far beyond the current scope, potentially transforming the landscape of treatment for numerous diseases. The breakthrough represents not only a scientific achievement but also a hopeful stride toward more accessible healthcare solutions worldwide.
