# PREGNANCY IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS

> **NIH NIH R01** · HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY · 1989 · $122,081

## Abstract

Antibody to cardiolipin (aCL) is an important predictor of fetal
loss and other clinical events in patients with systemic lupus
erythematosus.  How the antibody is related to these events is
unknown.  The planned research will attempt to (1) clarify the
immunochemistry of the interaction of aCL with phospholipids, (2)
establish a patholphysiology that explains the clinical events, and
(3) identify origins of the aCL.  Affinity-purified aCL will be used
to identify the primary phospholipid to which aCL is directed, to
verify or refute the hypothesis that aCL binds to cardiolipin via
non-F(ab')2 binding sites, and to determine the effect of phase
changes of phospholipid on reactivity of aCL.  Variables measured
will include temperature, ionic strength, and micelle vs liposome
presentation of phospholipid.  Secondly, affinity-purified aCL
and/or (from other sources) monoclonal aCL will be examined for
activity in cell biology systems.  These will include:  direct test
for anti-coagulant activity (especially in antibody derived from
patients without lupus anticoagulant), inhibition of phosphatidyl
inositot-dependent endocrine and lymphocyte function, activity in
platelet aggregation assays, and reactivity against placental
tissue.  Later experiments will test infusions of antibody into
pregnant small animals for both in vivo localization of antibody
and ability to disrupt pregnancy.  Thirdly, the relationship
between aCL and infectious disease will be clarified by testing
affinity-purified aCL for reactivity with infectious organisms and
by monitoring serum aCL activity in spontaneously infected
patients.  In addition there will be ample opportunity to examine
clinical correlations of aCL with clinical syndromes.

The proposed experiments promise to provide explanations at a
basic level for the pathophysiology of what is currently known
only as an association between clinical events and serologic
abnormalities.  The sought explanations have importance not only
for SLE but for infertility and for basic biology as well.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3156453
- **Project number:** 5R01AR032929-06
- **Recipient organization:** HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY
- **Principal Investigator:** AZZUDIN E GHARAVI
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1989
- **Award amount:** $122,081
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1984-04-01 → 1990-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3156453

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3156453, PREGNANCY IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS (5R01AR032929-06). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3156453. Licensed CC0.

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