# CHARACTERIZATION OF PATHOGENIC DNA - ANTIBODY COMPLEXES

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA · 1988 · $107,787

## Abstract

The long-term objective of this research project is to obtain experimental
information that will lead to a thorough understanding of the role of
antibody/dsDNA immune complexes in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus
erythematous (SLE).  Several lines of evidence indicate that the potential
of immune complexes to be safely cleared from the circulation may depend
upon their ability to fix complement and be recognized by the C3b/C4b
receptors of human red blood cells.  More recent evidence suggests that a
similar mechanism may operate in non-primates, but in this case the
relevant receptors are apparently on the animals' platelets, rather than
red blood cells.  In vivo studies on baboons, guinea pigs and rabbits will
therefore focus on how the physical properties of the antibody/dsDNA immune
complexes and the complement activity and C3b/C4b receptor activity of the
animals affect the clearance of these immune complexes from the
circulation.  Specifically, we intend to do the following:  (1) Investigate
the rate of clearance of radiolabeled antibody/DNA immune complexes of
different sizes from the circulation of these animals.  (2) Determine the
organ distribution of the complexes after they leave the circulation.  (3)
Examine how compromising the complement system of the animals influences
the immune complex clearance rates and organ distribution.  (4) Perform in
vitro studies to quantitate C3 fragments and antibody/dsDNA stoichiometries
on these complexes and correlate these results with the in vivo findings.
These studies will be conducted on immune complexes prepared with both
dsDNA and ss DNA molecules in a wide range of molecular weights.

Principal techniques to be used include radioimmunoassays, centrifugation,
and a variety of methods that focus on complement technology.  Information
gained from the successful completion of the proposed research will add to
our knowledge of immune complex diseases and should help in the design of
specific therapeutic modalities for such diseases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3155267
- **Project number:** 5R01AR024083-09
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
- **SAM.gov UEI:** JJG6HU8PA4S5
- **Principal Investigator:** RONALD Paul TAYLOR
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $107,787
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1979-09-30 → 1991-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3155267

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3155267, CHARACTERIZATION OF PATHOGENIC DNA - ANTIBODY COMPLEXES (5R01AR024083-09). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3155267. Licensed CC0.

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