# REGULATION OF SYNGENEIC KILLER T CELLS IN VIVO

> **NIH NIH R01** · CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION · 1988 · $116,938

## Abstract

Our research is directed to revealing how cytolytic T lymphocytes are
generated, regulated and terminated in vivo toward altered-self antigens.
We induce CTLs by injecting H-2 compatible, minor locus (Mls)
histo-incompatible cells along with tri-nitrophenylated self spleen cells.
The former stimulate helper T cells to make soluble factors required by
pre-CTLs that are activated by TNP-H-2K,D antigens.  Mature CTLs,
recoverable from popliteal lymph nodes draining injection sites are highly
specific for the haptenated self antigens.

We have studied down-regulation of this response using immunotolerance and
other techniques.  We have reported that a single suppressor T cell that
prevents appearance of CTLs is inducible by two separate methods.  One
involves inducing tolerance to the same Mls antigen that is used to
stimulate help.  The other involves pre-exposing popliteal lymph nodes to
syngeneic spleen cells before attempting sensitization for CTLs.  The
antigen responsible for eliciting the Ts in the latter case is unknown.
Suppression by both Ts is directed to some aspect of help and each cell
makes a soluble factor.

Distinct from this is our finding that two hapten-induced Ts cells
apparently act in tandem to prevent appearance of CTLs.  The two Ts are
initiated by widely different methods and are readily differentiable from
each other.  Neither cell, alone, will prevent CTL generation.  Both Ts
cells must be present during the afferent or inductive phase of
sensitization to interrupt CTL maturation.

We will characterize the Ts cells of both systems with respect to
phenotype, binding specificity, soluble products, and mechanisms of
action.  We are concerned with whether each suppressor system affects
precursors of CTLs or production of helper factors from T cells or
macrophages.  Acquisition of this information is important to our
understanding of the manner in which CTLs are induced and regulated.  Cell
mediated lysis is a vital part of the body's immunological armamentarium
since it is important in tissue graft and tumor rejection as well as
perhaps in certain types of autoimmune diseases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3127351
- **Project number:** 5R01AI017657-06
- **Recipient organization:** CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION
- **SAM.gov UEI:** TDGUJ1WA4UJ9
- **Principal Investigator:** JACK R BATTISTO
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $116,938
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1981-09-01 → 1989-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3127351

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3127351, REGULATION OF SYNGENEIC KILLER T CELLS IN VIVO (5R01AI017657-06). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3127351. Licensed CC0.

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