# RHEUMATOID FACTOR INTERNAL IMAGES

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 1988 · $165,967

## Abstract

Rheumatoid factors (RFs) are autoantibodies that are involved in the
rheumatoid disease process.  While they are found in the serums of patients
with many diseases besides rheumatoid arthritis (RA), they are uniquely
found in the rheumatoid synovium.  Traditionally, RFs have been viewed as
associated phenomena rather than directly related to the inciting agent in
RA.  Work from our laboratory has raised the possibility that RFs in RA may
bear the internal image of Fc receptors of infectious agents and arise in
RA as antiidiotypic antibodies (antiId) to antibodies to microbial Fc
receptors.  Staphylococcus aureus, groups A, C and G streptococci and the
viruses of the herpes group, herpes virus type 1, herpes virus type 2,
Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus and varicella-zoster virus all have or
induce Fc receptors on cell surfaces.  We seek to test this internal image
hypothesis by developing a panel of monoclonal RFs from patients with
RF-positive rheumatoid arthritis and RF-positive control diseases (systemic
lupus erythematosus, subacute bacterial endocarditis, and otherwise normal
individuals) using somatic cell hybridization with human mononuclear cells
from peripheral blood, synovial tissue or spleen.  The antigenic
specificity for the RFs will be delineated and similarities to the sites
that bind the microbial Fc receptors will be determined.  Mouse monoclonal
antibodies (MAb) to conformational (internal image) Id on the RF will be
developed.  These antiId will be tested for binding to the microbial Fc
receptors.  In addition, mouse MAb will be developed to each of the
microbial Fc receptors and tested for binding to the monoclonal RFs.  Those
bacterial or viral Fc receptors that are most similar to the RFs in terms
of their antigenic determinants and internal image match as probed with the
MAb would be best candidates for further etiological considerations in RA.
Differences in conformational Id determinants on RFs from patients with RA
compared to those from control individuals may well provide the basis for
diagnostic tests for RA.  Auto-antiId will also be sought to determine
their Id specificity and binding to microbial Fc receptors.  Furthermore,
since antiId can suppress the production of Id, the availability of a panel
of antiId or auto-antiId that recognize the majority of RF Ids could
potentially have therapeutic usefulness.  The proposed systematic studies
should therefore substantially enhance our knowledge of RFs with the
potential for providing diagnostic and therapeutic reagents as well as to
provide tools to probe the infectious etiology of RA.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3158577
- **Project number:** 5R01AR038487-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **SAM.gov UEI:** HD1WMN6945W6
- **Principal Investigator:** FRANCIS A NARDELLA
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $165,967
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1987-05-01 → 1990-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3158577

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3158577, RHEUMATOID FACTOR INTERNAL IMAGES (5R01AR038487-02). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3158577. Licensed CC0.

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