Chimeric receptor with ligand binding exodomain and cytokine and T cell signalling endodomains

1. A chimeric receptor system which comprises a first chimeric receptor and a second chimeric receptor, wherein the first and the second chimeric receptors each comprise:

a ligand-binding exodomain that comprises an antigen binding domain of an antibody;

a transmembrane domain; and

an endodomain which comprises:

(i) a cytokine receptor endodomain; and

(ii) an intracellular T cell signalling domain,

wherein the ligand is a tumour-secreted factor or a tumour cell surface antigen;

wherein the cytokine receptor endodomain of the first chimeric receptor comprises or consists of IL-2 receptor β-chain endodomain or IL-7 receptor α-chain endodomain;

wherein the cytokine receptor endodomain of the second chimeric receptor comprises or consists of common γ-chain receptor endodomain; and

wherein the intracellular T cell signaling domain of the first chimeric receptor or the intracellular T cell signaling domain of the second chimeric receptor includes a CD3 zeta endodomain.

2. A chimeric receptor system according to claim 1 , wherein the ligand-binding exodomain of the first chimeric receptor and the ligand-binding exodomain of the second chimeric receptor bind to different epitopes of the same antigen.

3. The chimeric receptor system according to claim 1 , wherein the ligand-binding exodomain of the first chimeric receptor and the ligand-binding exodomain of the second chimeric receptor bind to the same epitope of the same antigen.

4. The chimeric receptor system according to claim 1 , wherein the ligand-binding exodomain of the first chimeric receptor comprises a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) derived from a monoclonal antibody that binds the ligand, and the ligand-binding exodomain of the second chimeric receptor comprises an scFv derived from a monoclonal antibody that binds the ligand.

5. The chimeric receptor system according to claim 1 , wherein the ligand-binding exodomain of either the first chimeric receptor or the second chimeric receptor comprises a V H domain of an antibody that binds the ligand, and the ligand-binding domain of the other chimeric receptor comprises the V L domain of the antibody that binds the ligand.

6. The chimeric receptor system according to claim 1 , wherein the ligand-binding exodomain of the first chimeric receptor comprises a single domain binder, and the ligand-binding exodomain of the second chimeric receptor comprises a single domain binder.

7. The chimeric receptor system according to claim 1 , wherein the ligand is CD19, CD20, or CD22.

8. The chimeric receptor system according to claim 1 , wherein the ligand is ErbB2, MUC1, GD2, NCAM, ALK, GD2, Folate binding protein, CA-125, EGFR, Vimentin, Carbonic anhydrase IX, G250, PSCA, PSMA, or A33.

9. The chimeric receptor system according to claim 1 , wherein the ligand is CD13, CD33, CD19, CD52, CD160, CDS, BCMA, or CD138.

10. A chimeric receptor system according to claim 1 , wherein the intracellular T cell signalling domain of the first chimeric receptor or the intracellular T cell signaling domain of the second chimeric receptor comprises one or more of the following: CD28 endodomain, OX40 endodomain, 4-1 BB endodomain, CD2 endodomain, CD27 endodomain, ICOS endodomain, and CD40 endodomain.

11. The chimeric receptor system according to claim 1 , wherein the arrangement of the intracellular T cell signalling domain(s) and the cytokine receptor endodomain of each chimeric receptor is such that when the receptor is expressed at the surface of a cell, the intracellular T cell signalling domain(s) is/are positioned distal to the membrane and the cytokine receptor endodomain is positioned proximal to the membrane on the intracellular cell surface.

12. The chimeric receptor system according to claim 1 , wherein the first chimeric receptor comprises a CD3 zeta endodomain, and the second chimeric receptor comprises one or more co-stimulatory domain(s) selected from CD28 endodomain, OX40 endodomain and 4-1 BB endodomain.

13. The chimeric receptor system according to claim 1 , wherein both the first and second chimeric receptors comprise CD3 zeta endodomains.

14. A cell which comprises a chimeric receptor system according to claim 1 .

15. A nucleic acid construct comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the first chimeric receptor according to claim 1 and comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the second chimeric receptor according to claim 1 .

16. A vector comprising a nucleic acid construct according to claim 15 .

17. A kit of vectors for producing a chimeric receptor system according to claim 1 , which comprises:

i) a vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding the first chimeric receptor; and

ii) a vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding the second chimeric receptor.

18. A method for making a cell, which comprises the step of introducing into the cell the nucleic acid construct of claim 15 .

19. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a plurality of cells according to claim 14 .

20. A method for treating a cancer, which comprises the step of administering a pharmaceutical composition according to claim 19 to a subject.

21. A method comprising:

(i) isolating a T cell-containing sample from a subject;

(ii) transducing or transfecting T cells from the sample with a nucleic acid construct according to claim 15 , or a vector comprising said nucleic acid construct; and

(iii) administering transformed or transfected cells from (ii) to the subject.

22. A chimeric receptor system comprising a chimeric receptor and an intracellular fusion protein,

wherein the chimeric receptor comprises a ligand-binding exodomain that comprises an antigen binding domain of an antibody; a transmembrane domain; and an endodomain which comprises: (i) a cytokine receptor endodomain; and (ii) an intracellular T cell signalling domain, said intracellular T cell signaling domain comprising a CD3 zeta endodomain;

wherein the intracellular fusion protein comprises a cytokine receptor endodomain and a ZAP70 SH2 domain; and

wherein the cytokine receptor endodomain of the chimeric receptor is complementary to the cytokine receptor endodomain of the intracellular fusion protein, one of said endodomains comprising or consisting of an IL-2 receptor β-chain endodomain or IL-7 receptor α-chain endodomain, and the other of said endodomains comprising or consisting of a common γ-chain receptor endodomain.

23. The chimeric receptor system according to claim 22 , wherein the ligand is CD19, CD20, or CD22.

24. The chimeric receptor system according to claim 22 , wherein the ligand is ErbB2, MUC1, GD2, NCAM, ALK, GD2, Folate binding protein, CA-125, EGFR, Vimentin, Carbonic anhydrase IX, G250, PSCA, PSMA, or A33.

25. The chimeric receptor system according to claim 22 , wherein the ligand is CD13, CD33, CD19, CD52, CD160, CDS, BCMA, or CD138.

26. A cell which comprises a chimeric receptor system according to claim 22 .

27. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a plurality of cells according to claim 26 .

28. A method for treating a cancer, which comprises the step of administering a pharmaceutical composition according to claim 27 to a subject.

29. A chimeric receptor system comprising a chimeric receptor and a transmembrane protein,

wherein the chimeric receptor comprises a ligand-binding exodomain that comprises an antigen binding domain of an antibody; a transmembrane domain; and an endodomain which comprises: (i) a cytokine receptor endodomain; and (ii) an intracellular T cell signalling domain, said intracellular T cell signaling domain comprising a CD3 zeta endodomain;

wherein the transmembrane protein lacks a ligand-binding exodomain, and comprises a cytokine receptor endodomain and a ZAP70 SH2 domain; and

wherein the cytokine receptor endodomain of the chimeric receptor is complementary to the cytokine receptor endodomain of the transmembrane protein, one of said endodomains comprising or consisting of an IL-2 receptor β-chain endodomain or IL-7 receptor α-chain endodomain, and the other of said endodomains comprising or consisting of a common γ-chain receptor endodomain.

30. The chimeric receptor system according to claim 29 , wherein the ligand is CD19, CD20, or CD22.

31. The chimeric receptor system according to claim 29 , wherein the ligand is ErbB2, MUC1, GD2, NCAM, ALK, GD2, Folate binding protein, CA-125, EGFR, Vimentin, Carbonic anhydrase IX, G250, PSCA, PSMA, or A33.

32. The chimeric receptor system according to claim 29 , wherein the ligand is CD13, CD33, CD19, CD52, CD160, CD5, BCMA, or CD138.

33. A cell which comprises a chimeric receptor system according to claim 29 .

34. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a plurality of cells according to claim 33 .

35. A method for treating a cancer, which comprises the step of administering a pharmaceutical composition according to claim 34 to a subject.