# BIOCHEMICAL AND VASCULAR ALTERATIONS IN SCLERODERMA

> **NIH NIH R01** · THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY · 1989 · $212,063

## Abstract

Scleroderma is a serious disease characterized by excessible accumulation of
collagen and other connective tissue components in skin and internal organs.
The mechanisms responsible for such accumulation are not known.  We will
investigate the biochemical characteristics of skin obtained from normals and
from patients with scleroderma to determine the nature of the biochemical
abnormality.  Biosynthesis of collagen in skin organ cultures and tissue
cultures from dermal fibroblasts will be examined and the biosynthesized
products will be characterized.  Differences in the content or structure of the
various components present in the tissues or synthesized in the cultures will be
identified.  Special emphasis will be placed on the identification of the
various collagen types present and in the quantitation of their relative
proportions.
The effects of various cellular and humoral components obtained from patients
with scleroderma on the biosynthesis and function of fibroblasts and endothelial
cells in culture will be examined to identify factors responsible for the
massive connective tissue accumulation.
At the present, there is no adequate therapy for scleroderma and the disease
progresses relentlessly.  We propose a novel approach based on the
pharmacological manipulation of the various steps required for synthesis of
collagen to attain specific or selective inhibition of connective tissue
accumulation.  This approach will result in the identification of possible
therapeutic agents which may be beneficial in preventing progression of the
disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3155052
- **Project number:** 5R01AR019616-13
- **Recipient organization:** THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** R8JEVL4ULGB7
- **Principal Investigator:** SERGIO A JIMENEZ
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1989
- **Award amount:** $212,063
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1987-09-01 → 1990-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3155052

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3155052, BIOCHEMICAL AND VASCULAR ALTERATIONS IN SCLERODERMA (5R01AR019616-13). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3155052. Licensed CC0.

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