# CHARACTERIZATION OF SUB-EPITHELIAL MATRIX ANTIGENS

> **NIH NIH R01** · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · 1987 · $64,088

## Abstract

The basement membrane zone underlying the squamous epithelium of external
tissues is ultrastructurally more complex than basement membrane zones of
other tissues.  In addition to lamina densa, these regions contain
additional cellular elements such as the hemidesmosomes of the basal cells,
anchoring filaments between the hemidesmosomes and the lamina densa,
anchoring fibrils which appear to connect the lamina densa with the
underlying connective tissue, and oxytalan fibers which may mediate the
interaction of elastic elements with the lamina densa.  The diseases of
bullous pemphigoid and epidermolysis bullosa affect specific components in
this region, and demonstrate the uniqueness of these structures to external
tissues.

As a first attempt to describe the network of molecules involved in the
interaction of epithelial cells with molecules deep in the underlying
matrix, we have produced monoclonal antibodies to yet unrecognized
components.  Two of these antibodies have been selected for further
characterization.  One of them have immunological and biochemical
characteristics similar to those expected for anchoring filaments.  The
other has characteristics resembling oxytalan fibers.  We have shown that
these antigens are synthesized by specific cell populations and have
demonstrated the feasibility of their chemical characterization.  We
propose to isolate and characterize these antigens in detail, to identify
the antigen with ultrastructurally observed fibrous components of the
basement membrane zone, and to investigate potential interactions between
these components and other known connective tissue elements.

We anticipate that the proposed studies will provide specific information
regarding these basement membrane zone proteins and will help form a basis
for the understanding of the structure of this unique region.  This
information will provide the background for forming hypotheses regarding
the molecular events underlying the pathogenesis of epidermolysis bullosa
and bullous pemphigoid.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3157343
- **Project number:** 5R01AR035689-03
- **Recipient organization:** OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** NPSNT86JKN51
- **Principal Investigator:** ROBERT E BURGESON
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $64,088
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1985-09-23 → 1988-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3157343

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3157343, CHARACTERIZATION OF SUB-EPITHELIAL MATRIX ANTIGENS (5R01AR035689-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3157343. Licensed CC0.

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