Overcoming barriers for T cell therapy of hepatitis B and hepatocellular carcinoma (B07)

• Subject Area: Immunology
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 452881907

T cell immunity can control the hepatitis B virus (HBV), but fails in patients with chronic hepatitis B, leading to liver disease and cancer. Using CARs or TCRs we have developed, T cells can be specifically redirected to eliminate HBV-infected hepatocytes and target HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma. However, engineered T cells face the same problems as natural effector cells in the infected liver, namely functional bias and insufficient T cell help, resulting in limited expansion and survival. This project aims to overcome this by providing T cell help and targeted costimulation.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 338: LETSIMMUN - Lymphocyte Engineering for Therapeutic Synthetic Immunity
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität München
• Project Head: Professorin Dr. Ulrike Protzer