# HLA SUSCEPTIBILITY GENES IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS (RA)

> **NIH NIH R01** · BENAROYA RESEARCH INST AT VIRGINIA MASON · 1990 · $224,474

## Abstract

Molecular analysis of HLA genes and gene products has implicated
a small number of key genes and associated haplotypes accounting
for the association of HLA with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).  Studies
over the last 3 years have pinpointed specific nucleotide variation
among closely related genes as potentially contributing directly
to disease susceptibility.  We now have an opportunity to develop
a detailed understanding of the molecular genetic contribution of
RA-associated HLA genes to immune recognition, which will, in turn,
lead to new approaches to specific diagnosis and intervention
strategies in susceptible individuals.

We will investigate the structure and function of a specific RA-
associated nucleotide segment of the HLA-DR beta gene implicated
as a critical epitope in immune recognition:  using a panel of
specific oligonucleotide probes.  We will also analyze the possible
contribution of additional linked genetic markers on RA-associated
haplotypes.  We will study expression of a few specific DR beta
alleles implicated as putative susceptibility genes, for insight
into transcriptional variation in situ in synovial biopsies.
Another important new direction will be a large prospective
clinical study to evaluate the relationship between specific DR
beta allelic variants defined bY oligonucleotide probes with
clinical parameters at diagnosis and with progression of disease.
We anticipate that results of these studies will directly
contribute to a detailed and focused molecular perspective on the
contributions of HLA genes to the pathogenesis of RA.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3158013
- **Project number:** 5R01AR037296-05
- **Recipient organization:** BENAROYA RESEARCH INST AT VIRGINIA MASON
- **SAM.gov UEI:** PK9FMGRDRVD5
- **Principal Investigator:** GERALD T NEPOM
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1990
- **Award amount:** $224,474
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1986-01-01 → 1993-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3158013

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3158013, HLA SUSCEPTIBILITY GENES IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS (RA) (5R01AR037296-05). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3158013. Licensed CC0.

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