# CELLULAR ASPECTS OF TOLERANCE & DELAYED HYPERSENSITIVITY

> **NIH NIH R01** · TUFTS UNIVERSITY BOSTON · 1988 · $201,639

## Abstract

This research aims at an overall understanding of the way in which
specialized cell types process and present antigen to initiate a variety of
T-cell responses.  We propose to study three major types of antigen
presenting cells (ABC); dendritic cells, macrophages and B-cells.  One
hypothesis we wish to test is that dendritic cells may present small
soluble antigens directly to T cells but that large and particulate
antigens require preliminary digestion.  A major point at issue is whether
dendritic cells can perform these functions of whether other specialized
cells (macrophages) are best equipped to deal with these antigens.  Another
major point to be tested is whether and how antigen epitopes associate with
Ia antigens on the surface of APC for presentation to specific T cells.  To
answer these questions we intend using a unique system in which a variety
of T cell responses can be elicited in Lewis rats, all specific for a
simple determinant N-acetyl tyrosine azobenzenearsonate (ABA-tyr).  This
permits us to synthesize a variety of structures to which the ABA molecule
can be attached enabling us to study such properties of an antigen as size,
charge, digestibility etc.  In the course of this work we expect to develop
techniques for purifying and growing large quantities of the various APC's
to enable biochemical work to be done.  Antigen presentation represents
perhaps the first and least understood step in the immune response.  It's
elucidation will provide a major tool for control enabling us to increase
responsiveness where required (e.g. immunity to infection) or suppress it
when necessary (e.g. autoimmune disease or graft rejection).

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3124841
- **Project number:** 5R01AI010895-16
- **Recipient organization:** TUFTS UNIVERSITY BOSTON
- **SAM.gov UEI:** C1F5LNUF7W86
- **Principal Investigator:** SIDNEY LESKOWITZ
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $201,639
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1979-01-01 → 1989-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3124841

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3124841, CELLULAR ASPECTS OF TOLERANCE & DELAYED HYPERSENSITIVITY (5R01AI010895-16). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3124841. Licensed CC0.

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