Methods for altering cell fate to generate T-cells specific for an antigen of interest

Patent Number: 7,491,534

The concept of taking one cell and turning it into another cell has been reported and even patented in certain situations, however, it is still difficult to see examples of wide-spread use of such techniques.  For example, patent #6,087,168 covers transdifferentiation of epidermal cells into neurons by transfection with some specific neuronal transcription factors.  Patent #6,897,061 teaches how to transform glial cells into neurons.  Patent # 6,670,397 teaches how to dedifferentiate cells and then guide them to differentiate into another cell type.

This current patent covers ways of making a fibroblast into a T cell, and subsequently selecting for a desired T cell based on antigen-recognition ability of the de novo generated T cell.  The patent in its only independent claims covers "A method of reprogramming a cell to express a T-cell receptor (TCR) reactive with an antigen of interest, said method comprising the steps of: (a) incubating a permeabilized fibroblast cell with an interphase activated T-cell extract under conditions that result in TCR expression in said permeabilized fibroblast cell; and (b) selecting a cell that expresses a TCR reactive with an antigen of interest. "

The ability to generate autologous, patient specific, antigen-specific T cells will revolutionize medicine.  Although several hurdles remain to be overcome, this patent seems to have very exciting potential.

View this patent on the USPTO website.

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