# T CELL GLYCOPROTEINS CONTROLLED BY IMMUNE RESPONSE GENES

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 1987 · $107,681

## Abstract

The highly-regulated vertebrate immune system protects animals from
infectious and neoplastic diseases.  Regulatory failures may result in
neoplasia, infectious disease, immunodeficiency, or autoimmunity.  Immune
response (Ir) genes regulate immunity, and map in a cluster preserved
throughout vertebrate evolution.  Ir gene products are the class II
proteins.  Helper and suppressor T cells distinguish foreign antigen
(nonself) and class II proteins (self) on other cells.

We and others discovered Ir gene-controlled mouse T cell proteins.  The Ir
gene association strongly suggests a role in immunoregulation.  One
protein, I-J, occurs on suppressor T cells.  Another, I-At, occurs on
helper T cells.  The I-J structural gene is not in the mouse chromosome 17
Ir gene cluster.  We discovered the chromosome 4 Jt locus controlling the
I-J protein.  Whether this is the structural gene is unknown.  Antibodies
to I-J protein seem to block the T cell's recognition structure.

The T cell receptor which recognizes class II proteins is unknown.
Presumably, it would be controlled by Ir genes, but might be encoded
elsewhere.  The Ir-gene-associated T cell proteins may be class II protein
receptors.  To study their role in recognition and immunoregulation, we
plan to characterize the Ir-gene-associated T cell proteins genetically and
functionally.  Using specific antibodies in a flow cytometric assay, we
will re-examine I-J allelic strains, analyze I-Jb genetic control, test for
allelic exclusion, map the I-J structural gene, and test linkages in a
backcross.

Cell fusions and gene transfection will determine whether the
I-J-controlling genes H-2 and Jt must be active in the same cell.
Analyzing chimeric T cells will test whether the genes are active in
different cells.  We will investigate whether the Jt locus exerts its
control by influencing class II protein expression.  We will study a
possible chromosome 7 locus involvement.  Determining the I-At protein's
genetic control will extend our analysis.  Finally, we will probe the
function of Ir-gene-associated T cell proteins testing the hypothesis that
these serve as the T cell receptor's class II protein recognition element.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3171853
- **Project number:** 5R01CA034106-08
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **SAM.gov UEI:** LCLSJAGTNZQ7
- **Principal Investigator:** COLLEEN Elizabeth HAYES
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $107,681
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1982-07-01 → 1989-09-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3171853

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3171853, T CELL GLYCOPROTEINS CONTROLLED BY IMMUNE RESPONSE GENES (5R01CA034106-08). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3171853. Licensed CC0.

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