# AUTOIMMUNE ARTHRITIS DISEASE/PROTECTION BY T CELL CLONES

> **NIH NIH R01** · WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE · 1991 · $89,274

## Abstract

The present proposal is a continuation of our research into the
pathogenesis and manipulation of adjuvant arthritis in Lewis rats using
long-term lines and clones of T lymphocytes.  Since the previous
competitive reviewing we used clones A2b and A2c to probe expression
libraries of MT antigens and discovered that both A2b and A2c recognized a
65KD protein of the BCG strains of MT.  The epitope was identified as
composed of 9 amino acids, position 180-188 in the sequence of the 65KD
antigen.  This sequence showed some homology with the link protein of
cartilage proteolglycan.  Thus we are in a position to identify the
component of the joints cross-reactive with the MT nonapeptide.
Immunization of Lewis rats with the purified 65KD protein induced
resistance to subsequent attempts to trigger arthritis by immunization to
whole MT in oil.  We also succeeded in treating cells of clone A2b so that,
similar to clone A2c, treated A2b could be used to vaccinate rats against
adjuvant arthritis and to induce remission of established arthritis.  Anti-
idiotypic T cells were associated with resistance.  The general aims of
this proposal are to complete the characterization of the joint antigens
recognized by clones A2b and A2c and by other functional T cell, and to
elucidate the mechanism of resistance to arthritis induced by vaccination
with such T cells.  The specific aims are as follows:
1. Characterization of Joint Target Antigens
a. Synthetic peptides homologous with the nonapeptide.
b. Monoclonal antibody t specific MT antigens
c. Affinity purification of cross-reactive tissue antigens.
2. Characterization of Functional T cells
a. Responses in active arthritis
b. Development of additional lines and clones
c. Anti-idiotypic antibody probes
d. T cell receptor genes
3. Mechanisms of T Cell Vaccination
a. Treatment of established arthritis
b. Vaccines prepared from arthritic rats.
c. Passive transfer of vaccinated state.
d. Anti-idiotypic T cells
e. Effects of responses to antigens
4. Inhibition of arthritis using T cell defined epitopes

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3156218
- **Project number:** 5R01AR032192-09
- **Recipient organization:** WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE
- **SAM.gov UEI:** NPJ8YBLFTKX6
- **Principal Investigator:** IRUN R COHEN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1991
- **Award amount:** $89,274
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1983-04-01 → 1992-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3156218

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3156218, AUTOIMMUNE ARTHRITIS DISEASE/PROTECTION BY T CELL CLONES (5R01AR032192-09). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3156218. Licensed CC0.

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