# MOLECULAR MECHANISMS IN CELLULAR IMMUNOLOGY

> **NIH NIH R01** · OAKLAND UNIVERSITY · 1987 · $105,193

## Abstract

The ability of certain cells in the immune system, including cytotoxic T
lymphocytes (CTL) and natural killer (NK) cells, to mediate the
cytotoxicity of allogeneic, virally-infected or malignant target cells is
well established.  Several investigations strongly support the in vivo
importance of these cellular cytotoxicity reactions in defense against
certain infections, in immunosurveillance, and in the regulation of other
cells within the immune system.  Laboratory investigations aimed at a
better understanding of the mechanism(s) involved in these reactions have
been severely hampered by the heterogeneity of cytotoxic cell populations
and the lack of precise methods for quantitating cellular cytotoxicity
reactions and the individual stages in the overall cytolytic process.
Recent advances, including (a) development of procedures for the isolation
and propagation of cloned lines of rodent and human cytotoxic cells, (b)
production of a few hybridomas from cytotoxic cells, (c) development of
kinetic models and precise methods for quantitating cellular cytotoxicity
reactions and the rate constants for each of the steps involved in this
process, and (d) detection of certain proteins that appear to be involved
in the cytolytic process, now allow for clarification of the cytotoxicity
mechanism employed by these cells.  Experiments will refine and extend the
application of a multistep kinetic model for cellular cytotoxicity
reactions by testing its applicability to cytolysis reactions mediated by
cloned cytotoxic cells and cytolytic factors.  These studies will include
the precise measurement of the rate of interaction of these cells and
factors with various target cells, rates of lytic programming, and rates of
killer cell-independent lysis, as well as the effects of experimental
conditions on the rates of these processes.  These experiments will provide
valuable information about the relationship(s) between these cytotoxic
cells, the mechanism(s) involved in these reactions, and their regulation.
A clearer understanding of these phenomena is needed to clarify the
physiologic role of these cells, to facilitate attempts to enhance the
natural immunity of cancer patients, and to develop more quantitative and
standardizable assays for cytotoxic activity of normal and diseased
individuals.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3171865
- **Project number:** 5R01CA034112-12
- **Recipient organization:** OAKLAND UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** HJTLACN81NK1
- **Principal Investigator:** DENIS M CALLEWAERT
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $105,193
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1979-01-01 → 1989-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3171865

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3171865, MOLECULAR MECHANISMS IN CELLULAR IMMUNOLOGY (5R01CA034112-12). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3171865. Licensed CC0.

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