What are the applications of T cells?

T cells are of great use in a wide range of applications including but not limited to immunology, cell and gene therapy, cancer immunotherapy, and the study and treatment of infectious diseases. 

Chimeric antigen receptors (CAR)-T cell therapy is the most widely used application of T cells. It is one of the most promising immunological treatments for cancer and has been used successfully in clinical trials to treat hematological malignancies. In CART-T cell therapy, engineered chimeric antigen receptors are used to redirect T cells to targeted malignant cells. CAR-T cell therapy is also being used in the treatment of multiple myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and lymphoma. 

Antigen-specific T cells such as CD4+/CD45RO+ memory helper T cells, which remain in the body long after vaccination or infection, are used as a vital subset for the development of vaccines. They are also used to further study T cell proliferation, antigen-specific responses, cancer immunotherapy, and checkpoint inhibition.