Chimeric receptor genes suitable for endowing lymphocytes with
antibody-type specificity include a first gene segment encoding a
single-chain Fv domain of a specific antibody and a second gene segment
encoding all or part of the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains, and
optionally the extracellular domain, of an immune cell-triggering
molecule. The chimeric receptor gene, when transfected to immune cells,
expresses the antibody-recognition site and the immune cell-triggering
moiety into one continuous chain. The transformed lymphocytes are useful
in therapeutic treatment methods.