NOVEL TREATMENTS OF LUPUS TARGETING TNF-SUPERFAMILY RECEPTORS ON B CELLS

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. The goal of this study is to identify TNF-family growth factor recpetors on the surface of B cells that can be developed as targets for therapeutic control of autoantibody production by B cells in systemic lupus. The specific aim that will utilize the GCRC examines the expression of the receptors for growth factors on the surface of B cells of lupus patients and controls (including both healthy controls and controls with other inflammatory Rheumatologic diseases). The results of these assays will be correlated with clinical parameters and with levels of growth factors in the serum. This requires phlebotomy (as approved by the UAB IRB) and storage of samples of serum. The GCRC will be utilized for phlebotomy on volunteers from all subpopulations. The blood will be processed by the investigators. An aliquot of serum in appropriate tubes and with labels will be stored in the GCRC failities. This will permit re-examination of other properties of the samples at a later date. In patients who give consent, these samples will also be available for other studies. There is no other facility in the University to see these volunteers to obtain their blood samples, and thus this project needs the GCRC facility for the space and personnel for drawing these blood samples.