# IMMUNOREGULATION OF AUTOIMMUNE RESPONSES

> **NIH NIH R01** · THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY · 1987 · $131,468

## Abstract

A large number of human diseases are now recognized as being autoimmune in
nature, yet there is still no clear understanding of what defect(s) of the
immune system allows an autoimmune state to develop.  One of the most
attractive mechanisms postulated as a basis for the development of active
autoimmune responsiveness is an imbalance in normal immunoregulatory
functions; however, attempts to demonstrate a generalized loss of
suppression in human or murine autoimmune disease have provided conflicting
results.  It is therefore essential to investigate the immune control
exerted on a specific autoimmune response itself.  An assay for the number
of mouse erythrocyte-specific antibody forming cells was developed in order
to investigate the cell interactions involved in the development and
regulation of an in vitro autoimmune anti-MRBC response.  The in vitro
response itself will be characterized as to the determinant(s) recognized,
the nature of the antibody produced and the cell interactions required.  Ly
2+ T cells, shown previously to be suppressive of this in vitro response
will be further characterized as to their other surface antigens,
specificity and mechanism of action.  The origins of, and the inductive
influences on the autoresponsive cells and their regulatory cells will be
investigated in the kinetics of appearance and disappearance of each
interacting cell population in intact animals as well as animals depleted
at various stages in ontogeny of B cells or helper T cells.  Functional
cell populations obtained by positive as well as negative selection
procedures from young and old NZB mice as well as non-autoimmune strains of
mice will be compared for cellular characteristics and relative activity in
the anti-MRBC response.  The goal is to identify and characterize
mechanisms of control of anti-self responsiveness in normal mice and to
identify and characterize cell subsets found in conditions of autoimmunity
for any abnormal activities in responses to self antigens.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3157928
- **Project number:** 1R01AR037093-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** R8JEVL4ULGB7
- **Principal Investigator:** Catherine E Calkins
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $131,468
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 1987-05-01 → 1991-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3157928

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3157928, IMMUNOREGULATION OF AUTOIMMUNE RESPONSES (1R01AR037093-01A1). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3157928. Licensed CC0.

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