Chimeric endocytic receptors and method of use thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses chimeric endocytic receptor CER-based constructs for activating and regulating immune response, and method for using the same. The CER-based constructs are based on the structure of FcγRI/γ chain and incorporate high-affinity binding domain from receptors or antibodies shown to uptake specific antigen and present the antigen to T cells or B cells to initiate the antigen-specific immune response, Such design has the ability to transform native monocytes or T cells to CER-expressing monocytes (CER-M) or CER-expressing T cells (CER-T) in recognizing and uptake the target antigen and activate subsequent immune responses. Such engineered CER-M or CER-T can be used to treat tumor, viral diseases and autoimmune diseases directly. The endocytosis process with involvement of FcR-γ may enhance and coordinate T cell activation in combination with T cell activation by other types of constructs such as CAR.