# T CELL CLONES IN SPONTANEOUS MURINE LUPUS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCIENCE CENTER · 1987 · $90,235

## Abstract

Mice bearing the single autosomal recessive gene designated lpr develop an
autoimmune disease which serves as an excellent model for human systemic
lupus erythematosus.  A major immunological abnormality in these mice is
the proliferation of an unusual T cell that has the phenotypic
characteristics of a helper cell but produces a skewed pattern of
lymphokines compared to normal mice.

We propose studies to analyze 1) the activation of, and 2) the lymphokine
production by autoantigen specific T cell clones.  The spontaneous
production of mitogen and antigen activated lymphokines (interleukin-2,
Gamma interferon, B cell differentiation factor, and macrophage Ia
recruiting factor) will be studied in clones derived from lpr mice and
normal congenic partners.

We will study the ability of autoreactive T cell clones from lpr mice to
induce natural killer cells from isolated T cell subpopulations or large
granular lymphocytes during a syngeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction.  The
induced NK cells will be analyzed for target specificity and their ability
to regulate autoantibody production.

These studies should provide valuable new insights into the abnormal
immunoregulatory mechanisms present in autoimmunity.  Defining imbalances
in lymphokine production and subsequent activation (or failure to activate)
normal regulatory cells could suggest therapeutic strategies for the use of
T cell derived biologicals in the treatment of autoimmune disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3156730
- **Project number:** 5R01AR034105-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCIENCE CENTER
- **SAM.gov UEI:** C3KXNLTAAY98
- **Principal Investigator:** MICHAEL FISCHBACH
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $90,235
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1985-09-20 → 1989-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3156730

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3156730, T CELL CLONES IN SPONTANEOUS MURINE LUPUS (5R01AR034105-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3156730. Licensed CC0.

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