# T HELPER CELLS FUNCTION AND ANTIGEN RECOGNITION

> **NIH NIH R01** · NATIONAL JEWISH HEALTH · 1990 · $198,327

## Abstract

We plan to devise experiments which will integrate data on structures
responsible for T cell activation in the frame of sequential events
occurring in differentiation, and of cellular interactions which could lead
to the acquisition of the repertoire of specificities:

1. We will try to mimic the intra-thymic differentiation of cells of the T
lineage in vitro.  The role of SV40 transformed thymic adherent cell lines,
in conjunction with lymphokine requirements, will be studied in an effort
to dissect the kinetics of the differentiation process.  T cell receptor
and differentiation antigen gene expression will be studied at various
steps of development.  Analogous experiments will be carried out on
Abelson-virus transformed pre-T cell lines.

2. We will study the structure, gene organization and expression of an
Alpha related new mRNA species, "early Alpha" recently identified in our
laboratory in early pre-T cells.

3. We will elucidate the genetics, molecular structure, and function of a
differentiation antigen (TM.19) recently identified in our laboratory.

4. The functional value of V(D)J TcR-specific Beta and Alpha rearragements
will be assessed in transgenic mice.

5. Various aspects of the selection of the adult T repretoire will be
investigated: T-T interactions based on the existence of TcR idiotopes
which mimic MHC epitopes; in vivo suppression of self-reactive T clonotypes
meant to assess the in vivo equivalence of self reactivity.

The emergence of a self-restricted T cell repertoire, in ontogeny, and its
maintenance in adult T populations is a central problem for both basic and
medical immunology.  Our porposal aims at contributing to the analysis of
this process.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3129184
- **Project number:** 5R01AI019775-09
- **Recipient organization:** NATIONAL JEWISH HEALTH
- **SAM.gov UEI:** VLQKFEEJ3NE9
- **Principal Investigator:** ANDREI A AUGUSTIN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1990
- **Award amount:** $198,327
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1982-08-01 → 1991-09-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3129184

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3129184, T HELPER CELLS FUNCTION AND ANTIGEN RECOGNITION (5R01AI019775-09). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3129184. Licensed CC0.

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