# AUTOANTIBODIES IN SCLERODERM AND RAYNAUDS PHENOMENON

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SCH OF MED/DNT · 1991 · $157,894

## Abstract

Anticentromere antibodies (ACA) present in sera from patients with
scleroderma, CREST, primary or secondary Raynaud's phenomenon react with 3
centromeric proteins (CENPs):  CENP-A, CENP-B, and CENP-C.  CENP-B, the
major autoantigen, has been cloned and expressed in E. coli.  Anti-Scl-70
reacts with topoisomerase I.  The antigen has been cloned and, in addition,
chemically purified.  An ELISA for anti-CENP-B and for anti-Topoisomerase I
have been established and are more sensitive than immunoblotting or
immunodiffusion.  Anti-topoisomerase I predicts the development of tight
skin and anti-CENP-B the development of telangiectasias in patients with
Primary Raynaud's disease.  We have found IgA and IgM anti-topoisomerase I
and ACA.

The autoantibodies will be studied using the ELISA and immunoblotting.
CENP-C and CENP-A will be fully cloned and expressed in bacteria.  The
epitopes on topoisomerase I, CENP-C, and CENP-A will be mapped to determine
whether the autoantibody response is polyclonal as appears to be the case
for anti-CENP-B.  The anti-topoisomerase response will be studied to
determine immunoglobulin class and subclass and to determine whether there
is heavy or light chain skewing as found for the anti-CENP-B response.  The
clinical significance of IgA and IgM ACA and anti-topoisomerase I
autoantibodies will be studied in scleroderma and its subsets.  "Normal"
anti-topoisomerase I and ACA will be compared with those in disease states.

A prospective 5 year study of patients with Raynaud's disease will be
carried out to determine the clinical significant of the presence and
amount of anti-CENP-B, anti-CENP-A, anti-CENP-C, and anti-topoisomerase I.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3158366
- **Project number:** 5R01AR037986-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SCH OF MED/DNT
- **SAM.gov UEI:** H6D6JMXJXDE6
- **Principal Investigator:** Naomi F. Rothfield
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1991
- **Award amount:** $157,894
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1986-12-01 → 1995-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3158366

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3158366, AUTOANTIBODIES IN SCLERODERM AND RAYNAUDS PHENOMENON (5R01AR037986-05). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3158366. Licensed CC0.

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