# A novel role for Reelin therapeutics in rheumatoid arthritis

> **NIH NIH R43** · REELIN THERAPEUTICS, INC. · 2022 · $300,000

## Abstract

Abstract
Chronic inflammatory pathology of cartilage and bone represents a major source of damage to
the synovial joints observed in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although the precise etiology of these
diseases is often unknown, excessive leukocyte extravasation is a substantial contributor to the
tissue damage/inflammation and our recent data show a prominent role of the plasma protein,
Reelin in this process. Furthermore, we have now shown that it is possible, using anti-Reelin
monoclonal antibodies, to deplete the plasma of Reelin, which results in a significant reduction
of a wide range of vascular adhesion molecule expression. Thus, in contrast to the current
methods of depleting individual adhesion molecules or immune receptors, our anti-Reelin
approach systematically downregulates all major inflammation-driven adhesion proteins on the
vascular endothelium. The purpose of this proposal is to demonstrate the role of Reelin in RA
by 1) identifying high affinity Reelin antibodies and 2) validating the therapeutic potential of
mitigating chronic inflammatory milieu with an anti-Reelin antibody in an RA mouse model.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10545705
- **Project number:** 1R43AR081762-01
- **Recipient organization:** REELIN THERAPEUTICS, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Maria Z Kounnas
- **Activity code:** R43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $300,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-01 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10545705

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10545705, A novel role for Reelin therapeutics in rheumatoid arthritis (1R43AR081762-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10545705. Licensed CC0.

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