# EPITOPE IDENTIFICATION OF SCLERODERMA MARKER ANTIGENS

> **NIH NIH R01** · WISTAR INSTITUTE · 1987 · $161,958

## Abstract

The two major clinical variants of systemic sclerosis, diffuse
scleroderma (DS) and the CREST syndrome, are characterized
serologically by the presence of circulating auto antibodies
directed against a marker antigen which appears to be specific for
each of these variants.  The specific antigen for DS is the 105 kd
topoisomerase I and for CREST, an 80 kd kinetochore protein.
The production of these autoantibodies suggests the hypothesis
that they represent a response to an etiological event, possibly
viral, bearing identical or similar epitopes.  To obtain evidence
for or against the molecular mimicry hypothesis of antibody
induction in systemic sclerosis, we will characterize the epitopes
of these two antigens.  The proposed studies aim at demonstrating
that these very specific marker autoantibodies represent
footprints of the original etiological agent or insult and may
therefore yield valuable information regarding the etiology of
these incurable autoimmune diseases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3158928
- **Project number:** 1R01AR038907-01
- **Recipient organization:** WISTAR INSTITUTE
- **SAM.gov UEI:** DW1XZMGNFBL4
- **Principal Investigator:** GERD G MAUL
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $161,958
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 1987-08-01 → 1995-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3158928

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3158928, EPITOPE IDENTIFICATION OF SCLERODERMA MARKER ANTIGENS (1R01AR038907-01). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3158928. Licensed CC0.

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