# AUTOANTIBODIES IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AND OTHER STATES

> **NIH NIH R01** · OKLAHOMA MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION · 1988 · $45,760

## Abstract

Rheumatoid factors (RF) are antibodies to the Fc fragments of
IgG and they are the major autoantibodies of pathological
significance in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a major crippling
disorder.  Previous studies with RF isolated from patients' plasma
and synovial fluid as well as cultured cells have revealed the
complexity of RF reactivities.  The definitive demonstration of a
population of RF unique to RA patients has not been feasible
although ample suggestive data have been accumulated.
Recently, we have established multiple RF secreting cell lines by
Epstein-Barr viral transformation from peripheral blood of
patients with RA, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE),
Alzheimer's disease (AD) and normals of various ages as well as
from certain cord blood.  Preliminary data indicate some of the
RF from RA cell lines may have specificities of considerable
interest.  In the present proposal, we intend to establish additional
RF secreting EBV transformed cell lines from circulatory B cells
and synovial B cells of RA patients.  The specificities of these RF
secreted by RA cell lines will be determined by their reactivity
with rabbit IgG, autologous IgG, IgG subclass proteins and their
fragments.  Both IgM and IgG RF will be studied.  These RF will
be compared with those obtained from patients and normals
without RA.  Serological and molecular biology techniques will be
used to determine VH and VL region utilization by these RF.
Major cross-reactive idiotypes of these cell line secreted RF will
be determined.  Systems of analyses will be developed to
determine whether these cross-reactive idiotypes are represented
in RF isolated from RA patients' plasma and synovial fluid.  These
studies will identify RF of unique specificity in RA and provide
useful information as to the cellular and molecular origin of RF
formation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3159253
- **Project number:** 1R01AR039254-01
- **Recipient organization:** OKLAHOMA MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION
- **SAM.gov UEI:** NGCNCJ1X6XA4
- **Principal Investigator:** Shu Man Fu
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $45,760
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 1988-04-01 → 1988-10-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3159253

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3159253, AUTOANTIBODIES IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AND OTHER STATES (1R01AR039254-01). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3159253. Licensed CC0.

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