Publications

Publications

Oh S†, Khani-Habibabadi F, O’Connor KC, Payne AS†. Composition and function of AChR chimeric autoantibody receptor T cells for antigen-specific B cell depletion in myasthenia gravis. Sci. Advances, 2025. †co-corresponding 

I was pleased to collaborate with Professor Aimee Payne and the O’Connor lab to advance CAAR-T cell therapy targeting AChR-reactive B cells in myasthenia gravis. In this study, I found that some AChR CAARs showed unstable surface expression in primary human T cells, limiting their in vivo efficacy. Incorporating the CD28 transmembrane domain improved CAAR stability and restored function, and I further identified cellular pathways regulating CAAR trafficking and membrane expression. 

Lee CS*, Chen S*, Berry CT, Kelly AR, Herman PJ, Oh S, O’Connor RS, Payne AS†, Ellebrecht CT†. Fate induction in CD8 chimeric antigen receptor T cells through asymmetric cell division. Nature, 2024. *contributed equally, Co-Author

This study, a collaborative effort between Professor Christoph Ellebrecht and Professor Aimee Payne, explored asymmetric cell division in CAR T cells after target cell lysis. Casey and Sisi demonstrated that unequal inheritance of RNA transcripts and surface proteins gives rise to distinct daughter cell fates—effector versus memory CARTs. I was fortunate to contribute to this exciting project and truly appreciated the opportunity to be involved in such an innovative and meaningful area of research. 

Pham MC, Masi G, Patzina R, Obaid AH, Oxendine SR, Oh S, Payne AS, Nowak RJ, O’Connor KC: Individual myasthenia gravis autoantibody clones can efficiently mediate multiple mechanisms of pathology. Acta Neuropathol., 2023. Co-Author

While working in Professor Aimee Payne’s lab, I continued my collaboration with Minh in the O’Connor laboratory to investigate mechanisms of autoimmunity in myasthenia gravis driven by autoantibodies against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR). Through this work, they found that anti-AChR antibodies frequently exhibit multiple pathogenic functions—including complement activation, receptor blockade, and antigenic modulation—highlighting the complex ways in which these antibodies contribute to disease. It was a valuable experience to be part of this collaborative effort exploring the immunopathology of AChR autoantibodies.

Oh S, Mao X, Manfredo-Vieira S, Lee J, Patel D, Choi EJ, Alvarado A, Cottman-Thomas E, Maseda D, Tsao PY, Ellebrecht CT, Khella SL, Richman DP, O’Connor KC, Herzberg U, Binder GK, Milone MC, Basu S, Payne AS: Precision targeting of autoantigen-specific B-cells in muscle-specific tyrosine kinase myasthenia gravis with chimeric autoantibody receptor T-cells. Nature Biotechnol., 2023. First-Author

I had the privilege of working with Xuming, Silvio, and collaborators at Penn, Yale, UC-Davis, and Cabaletta Bio to advance MuSK-CAART, our second CAART therapy, into clinical trials for MuSK myasthenia gravis. This project benefited greatly from the insights of our neurology colleagues, including Kevin O’Connor, David Richman, and Sami Khella, as we explored both the similarities and differences between MuSK myasthenia and mucosal pemphigus vulgaris in developing targeted immunotherapies. This publication, completed during my time in Professor Aimee Payne’s lab, was an incredibly valuable and enjoyable experience, and I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to contribute. 

Fichtner ML, Hoehn KB, Ford EE, Mane-Damas M, Oh S, Waters P, Payne AS, Smith ML, Watson, CT, Losen M, Martinez-Martinez P, Nowak RJ, Kleinstein SH, O’Connor KC: Reemergence of pathogenic, autoantibody-producing B cell clones in myasthenia gravis following B cell depletion therapy. Acta Neuropathol. Commun., 2022. Co-Author

I was honored to collaborate with Miriam and the O’Connor lab at Yale on B cell profiling in MuSK myasthenia gravis patients before and after B cell depletion therapy. The study revealed clonal B cell variants that persisted through treatment and re-emerged before relapse. It also identified pathogenic MuSK Ig1-domain antibodies that disrupted AChR clustering, broadening the panel of anti-MuSK antibodies available for further study. 

Lee J, Lundgren DK, Mao X, Manfredo-Vieira S, Nunez-Cruz S, Williams EF, Assenmacher CA, Radaelli E, Oh S, Wang B, Ellebrecht CT, Fraietta JA, Milone MC, Payne AS: Antigen specific B-cell depletion for precision therapy of mucosal pemphigus vulgaris. J. Clin. Invest., 130:6317-6324, 2020. Co-Author

This study describes the comprehensive preclinical development of DSG3-CAART, the first antigen-specific precision cellular immunotherapy for autoimmunity to advance to human clinical trials. In the absence of prior precedent, our team—led by Jinmin and members of Professor Aimee Payne’s lab including Daniel, Xuming, Silvio, Baomei, and myself—collaborated with investigators across the University of Pennsylvania and Cabaletta Bio to conduct the pivotal studies supporting the FDA-cleared IND application in September 2019. I was grateful and excited to be part of this impactful work, which we hope will serve as a valuable reference for others developing novel cellular therapies for autoimmune diseases.