Nucleic acid constructs for co-expression of chimeric antigen receptor and transcription factor, cells containing and therapeutic use thereof

Abstract

Nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and recombinant cells harboring the nucleic acid constructs or vectors are disclosed. The nucleic acid constructs include genes encoding a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and/or one or more transcription factors, optionally mutated. The transcription factors include those that mediate proinflammatory cytokine expression, e.g., T-bet, STAT1, or STAT4. Methods are disclosed of co-expression of the CAR and the transcription factor in a human or non-human immune cell, preferably human T cells. Also disclosed are methods for using these cells for immunotherapy, e.g., in treating cancer, infection, autoimmunity, allergy or inflammation diseases by the administration of a prophylactically or therapeutically effective amount of one or more of the nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and/or immune cells, e.g., human CAR-T cells, described herein.