Fig. 1

CD38-CAR T cells generation and characterization. A Schematic of the CAR constructs. B The expression levels of EGFP and CD38-CAR on transduced T cells as determined. Vector without CAR insertion was used as controls. C Expansion of T cells transduced with CD19-CAR and CD38-CAR in vitro for 7 days (n = 10, healthy donors). (D) Representative graph of REP applied on the expansion of T cells transduced with CD19-CAR and CD38-CAR in vitro for 7 days. E CD38 expression level in CD38-CAR T cells and CD19-CAR T cells (control) (n = 3). F–H Expression of checkpoint molecules (PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA-4, and TIM-3); Expression of T cell activation markers (CD95 and CD28; n = 3); The percentage of T cells that were positive for memory cell markers (T_naive: CD45RA⁺CCR7⁺; T_CM: CD45RA⁻CCR7⁺; T_EMRA: CD45RA⁺CCR7⁻; T_EM: CD45RA⁻CCR7⁻; n = 3)