# LYME DISEASE--DEVELOPMENT OF SKIN LESIONS AND ARTHRITIS

> **NIH NIH R01** · STATE UNIVERSITY NEW YORK STONY BROOK · 1991 · $137,257

## Abstract

Old age is accompanied by changes in the capacity and propensity to mount
an inflammatory response. People are less likely to become febrile while
aged mice are more susceptible to pyrogenicity.  On the other hand, certain
inflammatory diseases such as arthritis occur more frequently in the aged.
The mechanisms of altered inflammatory responses in aging are poorly
understood. Thus, the specific aims of the present proposal are fourfold.
First, the effects of aging on inflammatory response.-, in mice will be
investigated. Acute inflammation will be induced in the skin and in the
hind paws by injection of various doses of phlogistic materials and
putative endogenous mediators of inflammation. Changes in the distribution
of neutrophils serum proteins and erythrocytes will be followed by the use
of radioactively labeled tracers. Gram negative bacterial endotoxin
(lipopolysaccharide; LPS) will be used as an extrinsic phlogiston.
Interleukins 1, 2 and 6, as well as tumor necrosis factor, histamine,
prostaglandins and leukotrienes will be investigated for their ability to
induce an inflammatory response in mice of different ages. Histological
studies of representative lesions will be undertaken. Conversely, the
ability of LPS or a bacterial challenge (Bacillus subtilis) to induce
inflammatory mediators in skin will be investigated in mice of different
ages. Secondly, synergistic interactions between inflammatory mediators
will be sought using suboptimal doses of two or more endogenous mediators
injected into rabbit skin. once active combinations have been determined,
they will be investigated in the mouse models using mice of different
age,--,. Thirdly, the roles of histamine, neutrophils and arachidonic acid
derivatives in the development of inflammatory responses will be sought by
pretreating animals with inhibitors of these mediators. Analysis of the
data may reveal an order by which endogenous mediators act in vivo. Fourth,
the regulation of the inflammatory response by naturally occurring
interleukin 1 inhibitors will be investigated. One such inhibitor is
derived from tumor cells of the B cell lineage. This inhibitor will be
purified, characterized in vitro and assessed for its ability to inhibit
inflammatory changes in vivo in mica-of different ages.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3157451
- **Project number:** 5R01AR036028-06
- **Recipient organization:** STATE UNIVERSITY NEW YORK STONY BROOK
- **SAM.gov UEI:** M746VC6XMNH9
- **Principal Investigator:** GAIL S HABICHT
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1991
- **Award amount:** $137,257
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1985-09-23 → 1994-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3157451

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3157451, LYME DISEASE--DEVELOPMENT OF SKIN LESIONS AND ARTHRITIS (5R01AR036028-06). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3157451. Licensed CC0.

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