# CSPG4.CAR-T Cells Modulate Extracellular Matrix Remodeling in DMD Cardiomyopathy

## TL;DR

This study shows that CSPG4-targeted CAR-T cells can reduce heart fibrosis and improve function in a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel cell-based therapy targeting CSPG4 to treat cardiac fibrosis in DMD.

## Key findings

- CSPG4 CAR-T cells reduced fibrosis and inflammation in dystrophic hearts.
- The therapy improved cardiac function and restored neural innervation.
- This approach represents a new strategy for treating DMD-related cardiomyopathy.

## Abstract

Targeting fibrosis in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)-associated cardiomyopathy is a critical outstanding clinical issue, as cardiac failure remains a leading cause of death despite advances in supportive care. This study evaluates the therapeutic efficacy of CSPG4-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells in reducing cardiac fibrosis and improving heart function in a preclinical model of the disease. DMD is a progressive genetic disorder characterized by degeneration of skeletal and cardiac muscle. Cardiomyopathy, driven by fibrosis and chronic inflammation, is a leading contributor to mortality in affected patients. Proteoglycans such as CSPG4, critical regulators of extracellular matrix dynamics, are markedly overexpressed in dystrophic hearts and promote pathological remodeling. Current treatments do not adequately target the fibrotic and inflammatory processes underlying cardiac dysfunction. CSPG4-specific CAR-T cells were engineered and administered to dystrophic mice. Therapeutic efficacy was assessed through histological, molecular, and echocardiographic analyses evaluating cardiac fibrosis, inflammation, innervation, and overall function. Treatment with CSPG4 CAR-T cells preserved myocardial integrity, improved cardiac performance, and reduced both fibrosis and inflammatory markers. The therapy also restored cardiac innervation, indicating a reversal of neural remodeling commonly seen in muscular dystrophy-related cardiomyopathy. CSPG4-targeted CAR-T therapy offers a novel, cell-based strategy to mitigate cardiac remodeling in dystrophic hearts. By addressing core fibrotic and inflammatory drivers of disease, this approach represents a significant advancement in the development of precision immune therapies for muscular dystrophies and cardiovascular conditions.