# Diagnostic classifiers for sarcoidosis using a novel T7 phage display technology

> **NIH NIH R21** · WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $115,500

## Abstract

Abstract
Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease of unknown etiology that occurs worldwide and is
characterized by granuloma formation in different organs. No specific test has been developed
to diagnose this disease. Confirmation of non-caseating granuloma in tissue biopsy of involved
organs in the absence of other causes is the current state of the art for diagnosing sarcoidosis.
We propose to test the hypothesis that overall immunity plays a prominent role in the
pathogenesis of sarcoidosis, since abnormalities of the immune function and the presence of
various antibodies/autoantibodies occurs in this disorder. Using a high throughput method, we
have developed a complex epitope library derived from materials of sarcoidosis patients. The
epitopes are derived from a T7 phage cDNA library of potential sarcoidosis antigens using
mRNA isolated from bronchoalveolar (BAL) cells and white blood cells (WBCs) of patients with
sarcoidosis. This cDNA library containing large numbers of epitopes has been immunoscreened
with sera from patients with sarcoidosis containing high titer IgG antibodies and the cloned
phages have been used to construct an antigen microarray to detect antibodies against sarcoid
antigen(s) in the sera of test subjects. We have identified a panel of biomarkers/classifiers with
high sensitivity and specificity that can discriminate between sera of patients with sarcoidosis
and healthy controls. In our study we used 80-90% of African American female population of
sarcoidosis patients and these patients were not strictly age-matched with healthy controls. To
test this hypothesis, we propose to use banked plasma from diversified population of
sarcoidosis patients and aged-matched healthy controls, enrolled in the NIH-sponsored A Case
Controlled Etiology of Sarcoidosis Study (ACCESS). We would like to use these plasma
samples and the clinical data from ACCESS biorepository to first test and validate the
bioreactivity of plasma obtained independently from cases and controls (ACCESS) to obtain a
panel of diagnostic biomarkers/classifiers, which can discriminate between sarcoidosis and
healthy controls. Second, we will determine whether the discovered biomarkers/classifiers can
predict the clinical outcome and Scadding stages of sarcoidosis. In future, this approach could
be used to identify a panel of biomarkers useful for diagnosis of various organ involvements in
sarcoidosis and differential diagnosis of various granulomatous diseases or response to
treatment in sarcoidosis subjects.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9964891
- **Project number:** 5R21HL148089-02
- **Recipient organization:** WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Lobelia Samavati
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $115,500
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-07-01 → 2021-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9964891

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9964891, Diagnostic classifiers for sarcoidosis using a novel T7 phage display technology (5R21HL148089-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9964891. Licensed CC0.

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