A transgene-encoded cell surface polypeptide for selection, in vivo tracking, and ablation of engineered cells

An unmet need in cell engineering is the availability of a single transgene encoded, functionally inert, human polypeptide that can serve multiple purposes, including ex vivo cell selection, in vivo cell tracking, and as a target for in vivo cell ablation. Here we describe a truncated human EGFR polypeptide (huEGFRt) that is devoid of extracellular N-terminal ligand binding domains and intracellular receptor tyrosine kinase activity but retains the native amino acid sequence, type I transmembrane cell surface localization, and a conformationally intact binding epitope for pharmaceutical-grade anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody, cetuximab (Erbitux). After lentiviral transduction of human T cells with vectors that…

• LR
  Lymphoma Research Foundation
• B
  Biogen
• ID
  IC Design Education Center
• NI
  National Institutes of Health
• NC
  NIH Clinical Center