# IMMUNOGENETIC STUDIES OF COLLAGEN ARTHRITIS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · 1987 · $113,404

## Abstract

Type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) is an experimentally induced and
genetically controlled autoimmune model of chronic, peripheral arthritis.
Multiple genes are involved.  An inbred rat colony of susceptible and
resistant, congenic, prototype and recombinant rat strains is being used to
elucidate several parameters of CIA that directly relate to joint
inflammation in rheumatic disease patients.  1) The existence of a genetic
relatedness between susceptibility to arthritis and to autoimmune diseases
is being questioned by comparative strain analysis of susceptibility to CIA
and other experimental models of arthritis.  2) To determine if differences
in susceptibility to CIA are related to differences in specificity of the
immune response to type II collagen, antisera from resistant and
susceptible strains are being analyzed (by ELISA) for relative reactivity
with isolated helical cyanogen-bromide (CB) peptides of rat collagen (II).
3) Strains of the RT1 haplotype are low responders and CIA-resistant.
Intra-RT1 recombinants will be used to identify the RT1 subregion that
controls anti-collagen immune reactivity.  To test for collagen-specific
T-suppressor cells, non-arthritogenic adjuvants will be used during
immunization.  4) The existence of specific "arthritogenic" regions of the
collagen molecule is proposed and will be tested in two approaches:  a)
immunization with individual CB peptides prepared biochemically from
heterologous type II collagens; b) use of hybridoma technology to prepare a
panel of monoclonal antibodies reactive with rat collagen (II) which will
be tested for ability to passively transfer arthritis to unimmunized rats.
5) Tissue culture techniques are being used to investigate the interaction
of synovial cells, collagen, and immune T-cells with emphasis on the roles
of interferon and interleukins.  Genetic differences between susceptible
and resistant rats, in the production of or response to these
immunomodulators will be questioned.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3155882
- **Project number:** 5R01AR030763-05
- **Recipient organization:** UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
- **SAM.gov UEI:** LL8GLEVH6MG3
- **Principal Investigator:** Marie M. Griffiths
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $113,404
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1983-04-01 → 1989-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3155882

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3155882, IMMUNOGENETIC STUDIES OF COLLAGEN ARTHRITIS (5R01AR030763-05). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3155882. Licensed CC0.

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