# BIOPHYSICAL MECHANISMS IN LEUKOCYTES AND MELANOCYTES

> **NIH NIH R01** · YALE UNIVERSITY · 1993 · $322,798

## Abstract

Studies are planned of phagocytic and non-phagocytic functions of
leukocytes, that bear on aspects of the inflammatory response. The
research plan is particularly aimed at the relationships among specific
but overlapping areas of leukocyte activity: adherence, locomotion, target
recognition, chemotaxis, penetration of endothelial monolayers, ingestion,
the increased metabolic activity that ordinarily accompanies phagocytosis
or other cell-triggering reactions, degranulation of lysosomal structures,
and intracellular killing.  The ways in which these activities can be
separated from one another may distinguish obligate interactions from mere
concomitance, and may reveal the specific pathways by which cell function
is altered.

The experimental approach is through various agents and situations in
which one or more of these activities appear to be altered, including 1)
leukocytes treated in a variety of ways to produce granule-poor anucleate
fragments (cytoplasts) that retain motile and/or respiratory functions of
the parent cell, 2) cytoplasts or leukocytes treated with agents that
affect their killing capacity for microorganisms, 3) cytoplasts or
leukocytes treated with molecules and particles that initiate calcium
fluxes, activation of protein kinase C or of adenylate cyclase, protein
phosphorylation, polymerization of microtubules and microfilaments, and
rearrangements or altered expression of specific cell-surface receptors,
4) leukocytes treated with controlled brief heat to alter their
respiratory burst oxidase activity, 5) leukocytes from patients with
chronic granulomatous disease of childhood or other disorders of leukocyte
structure and function, and 6) cytoplasts or leukocytes treated with
substances that produce ultrastructural alterations in fibrillar elements,
such as the metaphase-arresting agents, colchicine, vinblastine and
griseofulvin (affecting microtubules), and cytochalasins (affecting
microfilaments).

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3154692
- **Project number:** 2R01AR010493-26A2
- **Recipient organization:** YALE UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** FL6GV84CKN57
- **Principal Investigator:** STEPHEN E. MALAWISTA
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1993
- **Award amount:** $322,798
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1977-06-01 → 1998-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3154692

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3154692, BIOPHYSICAL MECHANISMS IN LEUKOCYTES AND MELANOCYTES (2R01AR010493-26A2). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3154692. Licensed CC0.

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