# CHARACTERIZATION OF HUMAN INTERFERON-GAMMA & CYTOTOXINS

> **NIH NIH R01** · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY · 1988 · $224,800

## Abstract

The long-term goal is to gain a better understanding of the biological
roles of gamma (immune) interferon (IFN-gamma) and of a functionally
related class of cytotoxic proteins, termed "cytotoxins".  Cytotoxins
include lymphotoxin (LT), monocyte/macrophage-derived cytotoxin(s) (MCT)
and tumor necrosis factor.  Our broad working hypothesis is that IFN-gamma
and cytotoxins mutually amplify their actions and that this synergism is
important in inhibiting tumor cell growth and in limiting the spread of
viruses and other intracellular infectious agents.  The first specific aim
is to gain a better understanding of the nature, multitude and mutual
relationships of the various cytotoxin proteins produced by human
lymphocytes and monocytes/macrophages.  To answer these questions we shall
perfect the methods of production of lymphocyte-derived LT and
monocyte/macrophage-derived MCT from human cells, complete the purification
of these proteins and produce specific polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies
against them.  The second specific aim is to elucidate the mechanism by
which IFN-gamma produces enhanced monocyte cytotoxicity for tumor cells and
to determine the possible role of cytotoxins in this process.  This part of
the project is based mainly on the recently established fact that IFN-gamma
is uniquely active as a modulator of monocyte/macrophage functions,
including activation of monocytes for tumor cell cytotoxicity.  The third
specific aim is to advance our understanding of the mechanisms of action of
LT and MCT and of their synergism with IFN-gamma.  The study of these
questions will rely mainly on the analysis of the role of cellular
receptors for cytotoxins and IFN-gamma and of the fate of cytotoxins and
IFN-gamma after their binding to target cells.  The proposed studies are
likely to provide biologically relevant and medically significant
information on host defenses in malignancies and virus infections.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3125335
- **Project number:** 5R01AI012948-13
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** NX9PXMKW5KW8
- **Principal Investigator:** JAN T VILCEK
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $224,800
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1976-09-01 → 1990-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3125335

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3125335, CHARACTERIZATION OF HUMAN INTERFERON-GAMMA & CYTOTOXINS (5R01AI012948-13). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3125335. Licensed CC0.

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