# ONTOGENY, REGULATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NK/K CELLS

> **NIH NIH R01** · ROSALIND FRANKLIN UNIV OF MEDICINE & SCI · 1987 · $29,073

## Abstract

There has been increasing evidence that natural killer (NK) and killer (K)
cell systems can play an important role in the first line of host defense
mechanisms against neoplastic growth and metastasis as well as against
viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections.  Germfree, colostrum-deprived,
immunologically "virgin" piglets have absolutely no NK activity but have
well-developed K cells mediating antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity
(ADCC).  Therefore, the gnotobiotic miniature swine model presents a unique
opportunity for us to investigate the following four specific aims:  (1)
further definition of the cellular nature of porcine NK and K cells; (2)
ontogenic development and differentiation of NK and K cells and their cell
lineages; (3) nature of recognition receptors and/or function-associated
surface structures of NK cells; and (4) regulation of NK cell activity in
vitro and in vivo.  Combinations of a short-term (2.5 to 4 hrs)
51Cr-release assay method for cytolytic effector activity of NK and K
cells, a single cell in agarose assay method for target cell binding and
cytolytic activity for a single or multiple targets, Percoll gradient
fractionation of large granular lymphocytes, "panning" and indirect rosette
separation methods for NK and K cell separations and monospecific
monoclonal antibodies produced by hybridoma technology, etc., will be used
to characterize NK and K cells morphologically, immunologically, and
functionally and to determine their cell lineages as well as to define the
ontogeny, differentiation and activation, and/or regulatory mechanisms of
these important host defense systems.  This may eventually lead to
manipulation or regulation of natural immunity against neoplastic diseases
as well as microbial and parasitic diseases.  (LB)

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3176411
- **Project number:** 3R01CA038336-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** ROSALIND FRANKLIN UNIV OF MEDICINE & SCI
- **SAM.gov UEI:** V913TCT2SFZ9
- **Principal Investigator:** YOON B KIM
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $29,073
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 1984-02-15 → 1987-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3176411

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3176411, ONTOGENY, REGULATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NK/K CELLS (3R01CA038336-03S1). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3176411. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*