Front Immunol. 2026 Jun 18;17:1835582. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2026.1835582. eCollection 2026.
ABSTRACT
Cellular senescence constitutes the core biological basis of body aging. It not only directly drives the occurrence and progression of multiple age-related diseases, but also establishes and maintains a chronic inflammatory microenvironment through the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), thereby continuously exacerbating tissue functional decline. In recent years, CAR-T cell therapy, as the first revolutionary therapy in cancer immunotherapy, has opened up new ways to intervene in age-related diseases with its excellent target elimination capabilities. This article first studies the molecular mechanisms of cellular senescence and its pathological effects. Then a systematic overview of the design principles, development trajectory and current applications of CAR-T technology is given, focusing on the latest experimental and clinical advances in aging-related cancers, neurodegenerative diseases and cardiovascular diseases. We also dive into key current challenges, including immune-senescence, target reliability, and treatment safety. Finally, we will explore the future optimization direction of CAR-T therapy and its translational potential through various strategies such as engineered immune cells and combination therapy, hoping to provide valuable insights into research and clinical practice in this field.
PMID:42396466 | PMC:PMC13323922 | DOI:10.3389/fimmu.2026.1835582