# T CELLS RESPONSES TO PHOSPHORYLCHOLINE

> **NIH NIH R01** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 1990 · $131,709

## Abstract

Interactions between lymphocytes through idiotype recognition are
believed to play a central role in the regulation of cellular as well as
humoral immune responses. Consequently, perturbation of the balance in an
idiotype network may often result in an autoimmune disease. To better
understand the regulatory mechanisms and the idiotype interactions of
lymphocytes involved in antibody production, T cell antigen receptors
reactive with the hapten, phosphorylcholine (PG), in conjunction with
either specific or non-specific carriers will be analyzed. Structural and
sero-logical studies of T cell receptors reactive to PG offer unique
advantages because (1) an extremely limited repertoire of antibodies, as
well as T cells specific for the epitope appear to be expressed, and (2)
it has been suggested by functional studies that the predominant idiotype
of anti-PG antibodies is shared by the PG- reactive T cell antigen
receptors, providing an excellent model system for studying idiotype-
mediated immune regulation.

We propose here to analyze the T cell antigen receptors reactive to PG-
antigens and to investigate the idiotypic relationship between the
epitope-reactive T cells and antibodies. We will approach these
objectives, first, by selecting a number of
T cell hybridomas reactive with PG in conjunction with either specific or
non-specific carriers. These hybridomas will then be categorized based on
their fine epitope specificity, including the extent of cross-reaction
with hapten analogs and any additional residues required for their
activation other than PG. The influence of haptenization on the host
response to PG and/or carrier will also be studied using mouse strains
with different responsiveness to the antigens. The possible serological
cross-reactivity among the T cell clonotypes and/or with idiotypes of
anit-PG antibodies will be examined by using monoclonal antibodies
specific for the T cell hybridoma clones and for the major idiotype of
anti-PG antibodies. Finally, cDNA representing the mRNA coding for the
PG-reactive T cell receptors will be molecularly cloned and sequenced to
correlate the structure of T cell receptors with their specific antigen
recognition. These studies will provide valuable information on the
mechanisms of T cell recognition of haptens and hapten-modified antigens
as well as their possible involvement in the idiotype network of the
anti-PG response.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3126182
- **Project number:** 5R01AI015446-08
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** KG76WYENL5K1
- **Principal Investigator:** BYUNG S KIM
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1990
- **Award amount:** $131,709
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1988-12-01 → 1992-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3126182

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3126182, T CELLS RESPONSES TO PHOSPHORYLCHOLINE (5R01AI015446-08). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3126182. Licensed CC0.

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