# Determining antigen recognition in systemic sclerosis

> **NIH NIH U19** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2021 · $42,998

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
This project focuses on the identification of specific self-antigens that activate CD4+ T
cells in systemic sclerosis. Cytotoxic CD4+T cells may directly contribute to cell death in
tissues and secrete cytokines that lead to fibrosis. They likely receive help from activated
B cells in tissues that in turn are induced by T follicular helper cells. Our goal is to use an
unbiased approach to identify self antigens that activate clonally expanded cytotoxic
CD4+T cells and/or T follicular helper cells from patients with diffuse systemic sclerosis
who specifically have inherited HLA-DPB1*1301. Single cell cloning of CD4+ T cells will
be used to identify matched T cell receptor alpha and beta chains from the most
expanded cytotoxic CD4+ T cells and T follicular helper cells. Soluble T cell receptors
will be generated. These soluble receptors will be used to screen a library of all human
self peptides fused to HLA-DPB1*1301 and expressed in yeast.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10188400
- **Project number:** 5U19AI110495-08
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Michael Birnbaum
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $42,998
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2014-05-01 → 2024-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10188400

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10188400, Determining antigen recognition in systemic sclerosis (5U19AI110495-08). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10188400. Licensed CC0.

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