The overall goal of these studies is to explore the interactions of the human immune system with specific group A streptococcal antigens as these may play a role in the development of rheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD).
The specific aims are to characterize the mechanism and dynamics of the altered proliferative response to streptococcal antigens of peripheral blood and tonsillar lymphocytes from RHD patients and to compare these with those of non-RHD patients. The humoral immune response to streptococcal antigens will be examined and we will define the cell surface characteristics and functional properties of cell species involved in the altered immune response in RHD. In addition we propose to study family patterns of response to streptococcal antigens and the presence of unique cell surface structures associated with RF/RHD as defined by monoclonal antibodies against B cell alloantigens. These studies should define a possible inherited susceptibility to RF/RHD and should allow the identification of those individuals with the potential for the development of these diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL030058-10
Application #
3341097
Study Section
Bacteriology and Mycology Subcommittee 1 (BM)
Project Start
1979-07-01
Project End
1990-06-30
Budget Start
1988-07-01
Budget End
1989-06-30
Support Year
10
Fiscal Year
1988
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
168559177
City
Minneapolis
State
MN
Country
United States
Zip Code
55455
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Miller, L C; Gray, E D; Mansour, M et al. (1989) Cytokines and immunoglobulin in rheumatic heart disease: production by blood and tonsillar mononuclear cells. J Rheumatol 16:1436-42
Schlievert, P M; Gray, E D (1989) Group A streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin (scarlet fever toxin) type A and blastogen A are the same protein. Infect Immun 57:1865-7
Gray, E D; Abdin, Z H; el Kholy, A et al. (1988) Augmentation of cytotoxic activity by mitogens in rheumatic heart disease. J Rheumatol 15:1672-6
Rich, S S; Gray, E D; Talbot, R et al. (1988) Cell surface markers and cellular immune response associated with rheumatic heart disease: complex segregation analysis. Genet Epidemiol 5:463-70
Regelmann, W E; Gray, E D; Wannamaker, L W et al. (1987) Lymphocyte subpopulations in rheumatic heart disease. J Rheumatol 14:23-7
Gray, E D; Regelmann, W E; Abdin, Z et al. (1987) Compartmentalization of cells bearing ""rheumatic"" cell surface antigens in peripheral blood and tonsils in rheumatic heart disease. J Infect Dis 155:247-52