CAR-MA-Mediated Trogocytosis Assay

All products and services are For Research Use Only and CANNOT be used in the treatment or diagnosis of disease.

The CAR Macrophage-Mediated Trogocytosis Assay is a cutting-edge technique that enables scientists to study cell-to-cell interactions, particularly focusing on CAR macrophages. This assay provides invaluable insights into the cellular crosstalk that underlies the efficacy and safety of CAR-MA cell therapies, a promising approach for cancer and autoimmune disease treatment.

The Significance of Trogocytosis

Trogocytosis, often described as "nibbling", is a cellular process where one cell takes small "bites" of a neighboring cell during direct contact. This process involves the rapid transfer of membrane fragments and their associated molecules between cells, representing a subtle form of cell-to-cell communication. Trogocytosis has been observed in various immune cells, including T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, dendritic cells (DC), macrophages, neutrophils, and basophils. Regardless of the cell type involved, a key requirement for trogocytosis is direct cell-to-cell contact, potentially involving the formation of an immune synapse. This process serves various important functions, including cell communication, activation, elimination of microbial pathogens, and control of cancer cells. However, trogocytosis can also have adverse effects, as seen in instances where it leads to fratricide of CAR-T cells, potentially allowing tumors to escape control.

Fig.1 Characteristics of phagocytosis vs. trogocytosis.¹

General Workflow

General Workflow (Creative Biolabs Original)

Case Study: Trogocytosis Assay

In the bites assay, macrophages are capable of engulfing entire, viable cancer cells, but it's common for macrophage interactions with their targets to result in partial ingestion, where only a fragment of the target cell is taken in. In this process, CAR-MA and tumor cells are allowed to interact within a confined space for a specified duration, followed by dilution for imaging.

Through this method, we can visualize the trogocytosis process and quantify the proportion of CAR-MA cells that internalize one or more "bites" of the target cells. To determine whether trogocytosis has a significant impact on reducing the number of cancer cells, CAR-MA and tumor cells are incubated together, and the count of tumor cells is subsequently quantified using FACS.

Fig.2 CAR-P promotes trogocytosis.²

As a leading cell therapeutics development biotech, Creative Biolabs is proficient at performing bite assays. We also provide high-quality Bead engulfment assay and Eating assay. Please keep in mind that in addition to our standard contract assay services, we also offer customization options to meet the unique requirements of different research projects.

Please contact us for more information about the different assays or services that are available to support your programs.

References

Miyake, K.; Karasuyama, H. The role of trogocytosis in the modulation of immune cell functions. Cells. 2021, 10(5): 1255.
Morrissey, M.A.; et al. Chimeric antigen receptors that trigger phagocytosis. Elife. 2018, 7: e36688.

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