CAR technology for autoimmune disorders, infectious diseases, fibrotic lesions, inflammatory bowel disease, and type 1 diabetes is reviewed

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Frontiers in Medicine Published June 6, 2026 Medically reviewed June 6, 2026 DOI ↗ By Dr. Amelia Tan, PhD · Internal Medicine & Chronic Disease

Key Takeaway

Note that CAR technology applications for autoimmune disorders and other conditions are discussed qualitatively without reported safety data.

This narrative review examines the potential applications of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technology in treating a range of conditions including autoimmune disorders, infectious diseases, fibrotic lesions, inflammatory bowel disease, and type 1 diabetes. The scope of the article covers these diverse indications to explore the breadth of this technology. The authors do not report specific sample sizes, intervention details, or primary outcomes because these data points were not reported in the source text. Similarly, information regarding adverse events, tolerability, and discontinuations is not reported. The review does not provide pooled effect sizes or quantitative safety profiles. The authors acknowledge that key details such as the specific population and setting were not reported. Consequently, the practice relevance and certainty of the findings are limited by the lack of explicit data in the source. Readers should interpret these qualitative conclusions with caution given the absence of reported numerical outcomes or safety signals.

Study Details

Study typeSystematic review

EvidenceLevel 1

PublishedJun 2026

View Original Abstract ↓

BackgroundOne of the most significant recent advancements in cancer immunotherapy is the development of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technology. More recently, this approach has been gradually modified for the research associated with various treatment-resistant nonneoplastic diseases by engineering immune cells to provide precise targeting.ResultsThis narrative review discusses two primary therapeutic approaches the use of CAR technology in the treatment of nonneoplastic diseases. One strategy involves the elimination of specific pathogenic cell populations. Specifically, by engineering T cells, macrophages, or natural killer (NK) cells, pathogenic cells can be eliminated in autoimmune disorders, infectious diseases, and fibrotic lesions. The second approach aims to restore immune homeostasis by using engineered regulatory T cells (Tregs) to control augmented immune effector responses. This strategy has been shown to promote transplant tolerance and has therapeutic potential for inflammatory bowel disease and type 1 diabetes. Furthermore, this review addresses major issues concerning the persistence, safety, and manufacturing accessibility of CAR cells and discusses some emerging technological approaches that could be used for focused refinements of this technology.ConclusionsThe precision medicine platform for CAR technology has advanced beyond oncology by integrating targeted cell destruction with the management of immune homeostasis. As future possibilities with frontier cell engineering and interdisciplinary approaches are explored, CAR cell therapy is likely to evolve into a more adaptable, refined, and clinically viable immunotherapy technology, with its therapeutic potential expanded to a broad range of diseases.