# KILLER CELL SURFACE ANTIGENS--BIOCHEMISTRY AND FUNCTION

> **NIH NIH R01** · DONALD GUTHRIE FOUNDATION · 1990 · $162,845

## Abstract

Natural killer (NK) cells, cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL's), and
mononuclear phagocytes (MP) represent three major systems of
host defense against tumors.  Our laboratory is actively involved
in the molecular dissection of cell-surface events important in the
cytotoxic response mediated by these cells, through the use of
monoclonal antibodies as probes of structure and function.  In this
project, we propose to continue our studies examining the role of
the Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-One (LFA-1)
heterodimeric family of surface glycoproteins on cytotoxic cells,
with special emphasis on the NK system and a closely-related
effector cell, Lymphokine (IL-2)-Activated Killer Cells.

Our laboratory is currently exploring the following hypotheses in
cytotoxic systems:  (1) that cell surface density of LFA-1 family
members is important in expression of cell-mediated cytotoxicity
in these systems; (2) that LFA-1 subserves non-adherence related
function(s) in the NK system, possibly playing a role in a late step
in the cytolytic mechanism or in more global regulation of
cellular processes (e.g., transmembrane signalling events); and (3)
that one important effect of IL-2 in modulating cytolytic activity
is in enhancing expression of LFA-1, through as yet unknown
mechanisms.  In this Competing Continuation Application, we
propose a series of experiments designed to further test these
hypotheses through detailed study of the structure, function,
expression, and biosynthesis of this important family of surface
molecules, as well as proposals to attempt to isolate and identify
the putative target cell ligand for LFA-1 in the NK system.  In so
doing, we will continue to pursue our long-term goal of better
understanding, at the molecular level, cell-mediated host defense
against tumors.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3174706
- **Project number:** 5R01CA037026-07
- **Recipient organization:** DONALD GUTHRIE FOUNDATION
- **SAM.gov UEI:** EQN2T77767Y3
- **Principal Investigator:** ROBERT E HALL
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1990
- **Award amount:** $162,845
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1987-08-01 → 1991-09-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3174706

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3174706, KILLER CELL SURFACE ANTIGENS--BIOCHEMISTRY AND FUNCTION (5R01CA037026-07). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3174706. Licensed CC0.

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