# CELL INTERACTIONS IN IMMUNE RESPONSES IN VITRO

> **NIH NIH R01** · JEWISH HOSPITAL OF SAINT LOUIS · 1991 · $30,502

## Abstract

The overall goals of this project are to characterize cells of the
murine immune system and determine the mechanism(s) of action
and interaction among these cells in the generation and regulation
of antibody responses in vitro to protein and synthetic amino acid
antigens.  Fluorescein conjugates of fowl gammaglobulin, hen egg
lysozyme (HEL) and pigeon cytochrome C (PCC) and GAT will be
used.  A major unresolved problem in cellular immunlogy focuses
on the nature of suppressor T cells (Ts cells).  We have recently
identified "Ts cells" in the spleen of antigen-primed nude mice;
this observation provides the means to better understand Ts cells,
their development, mechanism(s) of activation and action and
their role in regulation of antibody responses, especially to
antigens under MHC-linked immune response gene (Ir gene)
control, such as HEL, PCC and GAT.  Ts subsets that have been
identified in normal and nude mice are Ts cells in virgin spleen
and suppressor-inducer and suppressor-effector Ts cells in
antigen-primed spleen.  The objectives of this proposal are to
characterize "Ts cells" in nude mice and compare them with Ts
cells from normal mice in terms of:  expression of membrane
markers, such as Iat, Tind and Tsu; development and maturation;
effects of thymus gland grafts on Ts cells in nude mice; effects of
helper T cells on development of Ts cell subsets; and, antigen
requirements for activation of Ts cells.  We plan to determine the
target cell and mechanism of action of products of these T cell
subsets and to characterize membrane markers unique to Ts cell
subsets (Iat, Tind and Tsu) by biochemical and molecular
biological analysis.  Lastly, we will clone these Ts cell subsets
using a new procedure and characterize the clones by membrane
markers, physiologic function and mechanism of action.  These
studies should provide new information on the origin, maturation,
activation and mechanism of action of Ts cells and the
characterization of unique markers expressed on T cells, such as
Iat, Tind and Tsu.  Since Ts cells are involved in the Ir gene
control of responses to HEL, PCC and GAT, this study could
provide new information concerning stimulation of helper and Ts
cells by Ir gene controlled antigens in "nonresponder" animals and
the mechanism of action of Ir genes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3125571
- **Project number:** 5R01AI013915-16
- **Recipient organization:** JEWISH HOSPITAL OF SAINT LOUIS
- **Principal Investigator:** CARL W PIERCE
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1991
- **Award amount:** $30,502
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1978-09-01 → 1991-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3125571

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3125571, CELL INTERACTIONS IN IMMUNE RESPONSES IN VITRO (5R01AI013915-16). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3125571. Licensed CC0.

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