# IMMUNE MEDIATED ALTERATIONS IN CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SCH OF MED/DNT · 1987 · $123,887

## Abstract

Fibroblastic cells isolated from scleroderma skin and rheumatoid arthritis
synovial tissue display abnormal metabolic phenotypes that play a role in
disease pathogenesis.

Furthermore, the metabolic alterations are persistent for many cell
generations of in vitro culture.  We propose to use in vitro models to
investigate mechanisms whereby products of immune cells may lead to
permanent phenotypic changes in connective tissue cell populations.

We will utilize fibroblast substrains we have isolated which are
heterogeneous in metabolic activity to study whether immune mediators might
lead to preferential growth of certain subpopulations, i.e. clonal
selection, and the possible mechanisms involved.  The phenotypic
distribution of fibroblast substrains isolated from scleroderma skin and
rheumatoids synovium will be compared to that seen in normal controls.
Synthesis of prostaglandin E2, collagen, collagenase and
glycosaminoglycans, and message levels for alpha1(I), alpha2(I) and
alpha1(III) collagen will be assayed as well as biosynthetic responses to
interleukin-1, gamma interferon, and other mediators.  Clonal distribution
of collagen mRNA will also be examined by in situ hybridization.  Finally,
we will continue preliminary studies using monoclonal antibodies that may
identify specific fibroblast subpopulations to study the clonal
distribution of fibroblasts in in vitro experiments and in cells isolated
from scleroderma skin and rheumatoid synovium.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3156259
- **Project number:** 5R01AR032343-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SCH OF MED/DNT
- **SAM.gov UEI:** H6D6JMXJXDE6
- **Principal Investigator:** JOSEPH H KORN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $123,887
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1983-04-01 → 1989-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3156259

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3156259, IMMUNE MEDIATED ALTERATIONS IN CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS (5R01AR032343-05). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3156259. Licensed CC0.

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