# IMMUNOBIOLOGY OF THE T CELL RESPONSE TO MHC ANTIGENS

> **NIH NIH R01** · IMMULOGIC PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATION · 1989 · $135,087

## Abstract

The cytotoxic T cell (CTL) specifically recognizes and kills by
direct lysis target cells which are diseased or foreign.  CTL
recognition is advantageous to the host when the target cells are
malignantly transformed or virally infected and nonadvantageous
to the host when the target cells are from transplanted or self
tissue.  The clinical benefits of manipulating the CTL response
are clear.  This will require a thorough understanding of CTL
activation and recognition.  The generation of a CTL response
involves the interaction of several cell types; pre CTL, T helper
cells (TH) and antigen presenting cells (APC).

The aim of this project is to more precisely define the
interactions involved in generating the CTL response to major
histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens.  MHC antigens are
used because purified antigen can be inserted in liposomes and
used to stimulate a T cell response.  Use of this antigen will allow
biochemical and genetic manipulation of the antigen to assess the
specificity requirements for T cell recognition.  The role of other
T cell surface molecules will be examined to determine their
functional relevance to T cell activation.  The cellular and
biochemical pathways for their action will be investigated.
Antibodies to T cell surface markers will be used to determine the
role of accessory molecules in T cell activation.  Expression of
human T cell surface molecules via retroviral infection of murine
xenogeneic T cell hybridomas will be used to assess the
contribution of accessory molecules in T cell activation.  Mutant
constructs of these gene products will allow an examination of
their functional domains.  Defining the requirements for the
generation of T cell responses will clarify the pathway for clinical
intervention in the T cell mediated responses.  A more complete
understanding of the T cell accessory molecules, CD4 and CD8
will aid in the understanding of T cell activation and may suggest
clinical modalities to address AIDS as CD4 is the cellular receptor
for HIV-3.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3178106
- **Project number:** 5R01CA039264-06
- **Recipient organization:** IMMULOGIC PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATION
- **Principal Investigator:** JULIA L GREENSTEIN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1989
- **Award amount:** $135,087
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1988-04-01 → 1991-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3178106

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3178106, IMMUNOBIOLOGY OF THE T CELL RESPONSE TO MHC ANTIGENS (5R01CA039264-06). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3178106. Licensed CC0.

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