Inducing Pro-Inflammatory Macrophage Activation State by Introducing IKK2 Gene Into CAR-M Construct.
Department
Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, 201 Presidents Circle, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112
Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
4-17-2026
Abstract
CAR-Ms (Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Macrophages) are a type of immunotherapy that is a genetically engineered construct inputted into a macrophage to target tumor cells and control tumor growth. This technology is being used to study efficacy in glioblastoma because a macrophage can perform phagocytosis, eating into a physical tumor. Furthermore, current glioblastoma therapy leaves patients with a poor prognosis of under two years after treatment. The purpose of this project is to increase CAR-M activation by modifying the intracellular domain of the Roh-Johnson lab’s CAR-M, which includes a construct to target cells that express NG2, which is expressed on glioblastoma cells. The test is to determine how tumor growth is controlled by adding IKK2, a gene that causes downstream signaling to promote inflammation.
Recommended Citation
Cunningham, Kyndal, "Inducing Pro-Inflammatory Macrophage Activation State by Introducing IKK2 Gene Into CAR-M Construct." (2026). 2026 Honors College Research Conference. 26.
https://digital.library.ncat.edu/honorscollegeresearchcon26/26