# CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BASIS FOR THE IGA RESPONSE

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 1989 · $149,567

## Abstract

Our past research efforts on this grant have involved the functional
analysis of murine Peyer's patch (PP) lymphoreticular cells and their
contribution to induction and regulation of IgA responses.  Oral
T-dependent (TD) antigens induce T helper (Th) cells in PP which support
IgA responses and clones of these Th cells have been obtained.  These PP Th
cells for IgA responses (PP Th A) bear Fc receptors for IgA (FcalphaR+) and
preferentially collaborate with committed, surface IgA+ B cells via
FcalphaR for preferential induction of IgA responses.  T-T hybridomas
derived from PP Th A cells are FcalphaR+ and secrete IgA
immunoglobulin-binding factor(s) (IBFalpha) which support IgA responses.
We will determine:  1) the activation stage of B cells required for PP Th A
cell collaboration, 2) whether lymphokines other than IBFalpha are involved
in B cell triggering, and 3) the molecular basis for IBFalpha-enhancement
of the IgA immune response.  To accomplish this, B cells at various stages
will be tested with PP Th A cells and/or derived supernatants to determine
the nature of B cells which function in IgA responses.  T-T cell lines will
be used to obtain IBFalpha for its purification and for determining its
precise role in regulation (enhancement and suppression) of IgA responses.
We have isolated functional PP dendritic cells (DC), which are I-A+, 33Dl+
and which support periodate-induced mitogenic and KLH antigen-specific T
cell responses.  In addition, new procedures have been developed for the
purification of DC.  PP DC activate T cells of the Lyt-1+ phenotype and
these PP DC Lyt-1+ T cell mixtures induce polyclonal IgA responses,
suggesting that a unique PP DC-T cell interaction is important for IgA
responses, which helps explain why PP are a major IgA inductive site.  We
will determine the molecular basis for DC-T cell support of polyclonal IgA
responses.  Periodate-induced clusters will be used to isolate T cell
clones, which preferentially induce B cells to IgA synthesis, and will
allow a full characterization of T cells and lymphokines required for
polyclonal IgA responses.  Furthermore, we will extend our studies on the
functional heterogeneity of DC populations by assessing differences in:  1)
induction of B cell homing and 2) antigen presentation between the two DC
types.  These studies will be complemented by efforts to identify unique
cell surface markers and to produce tissue-specific anti-DC antibodies for
use as probes in the functional studies planned.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3128358
- **Project number:** 5R01AI018958-08
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **SAM.gov UEI:** YND4PLMC9AN7
- **Principal Investigator:** Jerry R McGhee
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1989
- **Award amount:** $149,567
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1982-09-30 → 1990-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3128358

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3128358, CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BASIS FOR THE IGA RESPONSE (5R01AI018958-08). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3128358. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*