# STRUCTURAL BASIS OF COLLAGEN-INDUCED ARTHRITIS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCI CTR · 1987 · $137,515

## Abstract

The overall goal of this project is to identify the structure-function
relationship of type II collagen as it relates to the pathogenesis of
collagen-induced arthritis.  It has previously been shown that immunization
of susceptible mice with native type II collagen results in the development
of polyarthritis which sufficiently resembles human rheumatoid arthritis to
be used as a model.  There is considerable evidence that the experimental
arthritis is dependent upon the presence of specific anticollagen antibody
but there is no correlation between antibody level and arthritis.  The
objective of this project is to identify the structural basis of epitopes
on native types II collagen recognized by antibodies which induce or
suppress arthritis.  Type II collagen will be cleaved with cyanogen bromide
and the resulting fragments isolated.  Since the topograhic location of
these fragments in native type II collagen is precisely known, they will be
used as highly-specific probes to identify antibodies critical either to
the induction of arthritis or to its prevention.  Induction of arthritis
and antibody specificity are both highly-dependent on the conformational
integrity of the type II collagen molecule.  Therefore, it will be
necessary to renature each of the fragments before using it as a probe.
Once all of the fragments are renatured, they will be used to study
cross-reactivity of antisera from both arthritis-susceptible and
non-susceptible mouse strains.  They will also be used to absorb
arthritogenic activity from concentrated polyclonal antibody preparations
known to be capable of transferring arthritis.  Finally, they will be used
to identify and characterize monoclonal antibodies capable of inducing or
preventing arthritis.  Characterization of arthritogenic epitopes on type
II collagen will facilitate further studies of the pathogenesis of
collagen-induced arthritis and will permit better focused studies of
patients with anticollagen reactivity.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3156889
- **Project number:** 5R01AR034621-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCI CTR
- **SAM.gov UEI:** X1M1PN3KG3E7
- **Principal Investigator:** ANDREW H KANG
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $137,515
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1985-01-01 → 1987-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3156889

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3156889, STRUCTURAL BASIS OF COLLAGEN-INDUCED ARTHRITIS (5R01AR034621-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3156889. Licensed CC0.

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