CAR T cell targeting of inflammatory myeloid progenitors in the bone marrow remodels border-associated macrophages and reverses cognitive aging

Harris, A. S.; Rouse, J. A.; Guo, G.; Fernandez-Maestre, I.; Pal, S.; Oh, B.; Li, S.; See, W. Y.; Anderson, A.; Gewolb, J.; Soethout, M.; Habel, J.; Utama, R.; Vakoc, C. R.; Amor, C.

doi:10.64898/2026.09.27.754777

bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.09.27.754777

CAR T cell targeting of inflammatory myeloid progenitors in the bone marrow remodels border-associated macrophages and reverses cognitive aging

Harris, A. S.·Rouse, J. A.·Guo, G.·Fernandez-Maestre, I.·Pal, S.·Oh, B.·Li, S.·See, W. Y.·Anderson, A.·Gewolb, J.·Soethout, M.·Habel, J.·Utama, R.·Vakoc, C. R.·Amor, C.

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Abstract

Aging is associated with progressive neuroinflammation and cognitive decline, yet the cellular sources that sustain this process and whether they can be targeted peripherally remain unclear. Here, we identify inflammatory border-associated macrophages (BAMs) as key drivers of neuroinflammation in aging and show that their therapeutic and prophylactic elimination through intrathecal CAR T cell therapy restores cognitive performance in mouse models of aging and Alzheimer's disease. Furthermore, targeting of aged inflammatory bone marrow myeloid progenitors through either intravenous CAR T cells, which do not infiltrate the brain, or through transplantation of CAR T-treated progenitors is sufficient to reduce neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment. These findings reveal that bone marrow myeloid progenitors harbor a heritable inflammatory transcriptional state that is transmitted to their BAM progeny, driving neuroinflammation and cognitive deterioration, and conserved in human aging. Critically, this proinflammatory state is marked by the upregulation of surface proteins, enabling precise peripheral CAR T cell targeting of these progenitors for long-lasting therapeutic effects in cognitive aging.

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Harris, A. S., Rouse, J. A., Guo, G., Fernandez-Maestre, I., Pal, S., Oh, B., Li, S., See, W. Y., Anderson, A., Gewolb, J., Soethout, M., Habel, J., Utama, R., Vakoc, C. R., Amor, C.. 2026-09-28. CAR T cell targeting of inflammatory myeloid progenitors in the bone marrow remodels border-associated macrophages and reverses cognitive aging. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.09.27.754777

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