# CHARACTERIZATION OF SUB-EPITHELIAL ANTIGENS

> **NIH NIH R01** · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · 1990 · $100,897

## Abstract

Human skin keratinocytes are affixed to the underlying dermal
matrix by a complex attachment mechanism, many elements of
which are unique to external eipthelia.  These include the
hemidesmosomes which mediate attachment of keratin filaments
to the basolateral plasma membrane, anchoring filaments that
appear to bridge the hemidesmosomes to the lamina densa of the
basement membrane, and the anchoring fibril network, that
attaches the lamina densa to the subjacent dermis by physical
entrapment of dermal fibrous elements.  Failure of this
attachment complex results in several forms of the blistering
diseases jointly termed Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB).  While the
phenomena of dermal-epidermal separation is well documented,
the molecular events leading of these separations are not
unambiguously known.  During the past three years of funding,
this grant has supported studies that identified a large and
complex C-terminal globular domain of type VII collagen (NC-1)
and indicated involvement of this domain in a new model of the
anchoring fibril network.  The model is based upon structural
characterization of type VII collagen and ultrastructural
immunolocalization of NC-1.  The model predicts interactions of
NC-1 with itself, with type IV collagen and with other intrinsic
basement membrane components both with the lamina densa and
within structures we have termed "anchoring plaques".

This application proposes continuation of these studies to:  (1)
investigate the possible interactions of NC-1 with itself and with
domains of type IV collagen and other basement membrane
proteins using solid phase interaction assays and biophysical
techniques; (2) to attempt to isolate additional NC-1 binding
proteins by affinity chromatography and to characterize their
structures; (3) to begin identification of the structural
components of hemidesmosomes by first producing monoclonal
antibodies to membrane fractions enriched for them and use of
these antibodies for immunoisolation and structural
characterization of them; and (4) to assess the ability of cultured
EB keratinocytes to synthesize type VII collagen using cDNA
hybridization and immunoblotting techniques, and to evaluate the
defective anchoring fibril networks of individuals with recessive
dystrophic EB relative to the above described model, using
electron microscope immunohistochemistry.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3157345
- **Project number:** 5R01AR035689-06
- **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:** 1990
- **Award amount:** $100,897
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1985-09-23 → 1991-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3157345

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3157345, CHARACTERIZATION OF SUB-EPITHELIAL ANTIGENS (5R01AR035689-06). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3157345. Licensed CC0.

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