# Autoantibody blockade in neonatal lupus

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2020 · $234,000

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Anti-Sjögren's syndrome antigen A (SSA) autoantibodies are primarily found in patients with Sjögren's
syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), where they represent a useful diagnostic marker whose
pathological significance remains to be clarified. Importantly, the presence of anti-SSA autoantibodies in
pregnant mothers associates with a high risk to bear children that develop neonatal lupus with irreversible
damage of the heart conduction system. The development of congenital heart block secondary to maternal
seropositivity for anti-SSA autoantibodies associates with child mortality rate of up to 30% and the requirement
of a pacemaker within the first year of life in about 64% of the cases. This elevated morbidity and dire
prognosis have not changed in years mainly because of the difficulty to reduce the burden of maternal anti-
SSA autoantibodies that cause the damage to the fetal heart. Here we propose to inhibit SSA autoantibody
production in pregnant mothers for the prevention of heart tissue injury in their fetuses. Building on preliminary
data that identified leptin as a promoter of the production of anti-SSA autoantibodies in mice and that showed
the efficacy of leptin inhibition in reducing circulating anti-SSA autoantibodies, we aim to test whether leptin
antagonism in anti-SSA-positive pregnant mice can reduce fetal heart tissue injury in neonatal lupus, and
delineate the underlying mechanisms. Goal of these studies is to have a preclinical proof-of-concept of a new
modality of intervention in neonatal lupus, to improve outcomes and to limit the highly disabling/fatal
consequences of this condition.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10072323
- **Project number:** 1R21AI154935-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** ANTONIO LA CAVA
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $234,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-05-22 → 2022-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10072323

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10072323, Autoantibody blockade in neonatal lupus (1R21AI154935-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10072323. Licensed CC0.

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