Transgenic animal cell, useful for studying the human immune system and as a transplant cell, comprises a human transgene targeted to and interrupting the animal homologue implicated in antigenic recognition or T cell activity

摘要

An isolated animal cell containing at least one transgene having a sequence encoding part or all of a human polypeptide implicated in the antigenic recognition and/or cellular activity of T cells, is new. An isolated animal cell containing at least one transgene having a sequence encoding part or all of a human polypeptide implicated in the antigenic recognition and/or cellular activity of T cells, where the transgene is stably inserted into the genome by targeted homologue recombination ('Knock In') to at least one allele of an endogenous gene so that the gene is invalidated. Independent claims are also included for: (1) a non-human transgenic animal comprising the claimed cell; and (2) detecting a compound which modulates the human immune system, comprising contacting the claimed cell or transgenic animal with an immunogen responsible for releasing an immune response, and a test compound, and quantitatively or qualitatively determining the response.