# T CELL IMMUNITY IN MURINE COLLAGEN INDUCED ARTHRITIS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT & ST AGRIC COLLEGE · 1988 · $113,803

## Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by chronic inflammation and
proliferative activity in the synovial membrane of many joints.  Though the
initiating events are unknown, a prominent role for autoimmune processes in
the perpetuation of the synovitis is indicated by the presence of
rheumatoid factor and both cellular and humoral immunity to autologous
antigens such as collagen.  The murine model of type II collagen induced
arthritis (CIA) shows many similarities to RA.

The study will investigate the role of T-cell immunity in the response to
type II collagen and subsequent development of inflammatory arthritis.  The
three main focal points of the study are 1) definition of the determinant
or determinants expressed by type II collagen recognized by T-cells and
which elicit the repsonse resulting in arthritis; 2) development of T-cell
lines and clones reactive to type II collagen to be assessed for their
arthritis-inducing potential; 3) in vivo manipulation of T-cell subsets and
Ia expression by administration of monoclonal antibody and its effect on
the immune response and CIA.

Analysis of the immunologic and arthritogenic potential of peptides derived
by cyanogen bromide digestion of type II collagen will allow definition of
critical determinants associated with CIA.  The production of T-cell lines
and clones will be undertaken to provide a means for direct assessment of
T-cell potential with regard to CIA induction.  Administration of
monoclonal antibody will complement the work with T-cell lines by
permitting assessment of the in vivo role played by individual T-cell
subsets in CIA induction and perpetuation.  By defining the role of T-cells
in CIA, further knowledge will be gained concerning the pathogenic and
etiologic factors involved in RA, and new strategies for immunoregulatory
therapies may be revealed.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3157720
- **Project number:** 5R01AR036732-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT & ST AGRIC COLLEGE
- **SAM.gov UEI:** Z94KLERAG5V9
- **Principal Investigator:** SHELDON M COOPER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $113,803
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1986-01-01 → 1989-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3157720

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3157720, T CELL IMMUNITY IN MURINE COLLAGEN INDUCED ARTHRITIS (5R01AR036732-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3157720. Licensed CC0.

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