# A STUDY OF SCLERODERMA

> **NIH NIH R01** · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · 1989 · $196,095

## Abstract

Scleroderma (systemic sclerosis) is a generalized disorder characterized by
intense scarring of the skin, lungs, gut, heart and kidneys; closely
associated with this interstitial fibrosis is an intimal vascular and
microvascular lesion throughout the body characterized by endothelial
perturbation, intimal proliferation (smooth muscle cells), mononuclear cell
infiltrates in the perivascular region, and vascular insufficiency of
critical organ function which defines the prognosis and outcome in the
individual patient.  Increased understanding of scleroderma, which is the
third most prevalent rheumatic disease (after rheumatoid arthritis and
lupus) and which forms the bedrock for a number of diffuse connective
tissue disorders (overlap syndromes, undifferentiated connective tissue
syndromes (UCTS), mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), Sjogren's
associated syndromes, etc.), has come from study of the target cells
(fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells), from the matrix
proteins synthesized and secreted, from serum activity studies, from
serological studies of antinuclear and antimatrix antibodies, and from
studies of immune cells and related cytokines (interleukins, interferons).

We will study the growth regulation and gene expression of the scleroderma
fibroblast and the interaction of endothelial cells with characterized
recombinant cytokines, with serum activities, and with mononuclear cell and
lymphocyte interactions relevant to the vascular and fibrotic
manifestations of this untreatable and essentially incurable disease.  We
propose an in-depth cellular and molecular analysis of scleroderma; the
hypothesis is that target cells are persistently activated and that the
gene expression of this activation state can be studied directly by
techniques of transfection, gene isolation, and gene sequencing to
determine the molecular basis of abnormal competence or growth regulation
genes in scleroderma.  By studies combining several disciplines, we hope to
integrate the presently disparate findings in this disease toward a logical
and effective therapeutic intervention.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3155800
- **Project number:** 5R01AR030431-08
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
- **SAM.gov UEI:** NHV3GTWSALA7
- **Principal Investigator:** E CARWILE LEROY
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1989
- **Award amount:** $196,095
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1982-01-01 → 1991-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3155800

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3155800, A STUDY OF SCLERODERMA (5R01AR030431-08). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3155800. Licensed CC0.

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