Patent ID: 6982082

Claim:
A method for inhibiting proliferation of genetically engineered T cells in an animal, wherein said genetically engineered T cells are introduced to the animal and said genetically engineered T cells comprise a nucleic acid encoding a mutated macrolide binding protein (MBP) selected from an FK506-binding protein (FKBP), cyclophilin, calcineurin, and FKBP:rapamycin associated protein (FRAP), wherein said method comprises administering to the animal a macrolide which binds to the mutated MBP or forms a complex including the mutated MBP, thereby inhibiting proliferation of T cells expressing the mutated MBP, wherein said genetically engineered T cells are autologous or allogeneic to the animal, and wherein, relative to the wild-type MBP, the mutated MBP contains an altered amino acid sequence and has an altered specificity for binding to or forming a complex with a macrolide.