Department of Immunobiology and Hybridoma Technology
Projects- Immunobiology Section
Completed Projects:
1. Anti-idiotype antibodies to anti-dsDNA in SLE.
Year of commencement: 1992-1994.
Duration: 3 years
Funding agency ICMR
Outcome :
Presence of anti-dsDNA in active, relapse and remission cases of SLE were directly correlated with the clinical expression of SLE. Incidence of anti-idiotype antibodies in untreated and treated SLE cases were indicative of immuno regulatory mechanisms in these patients.
2. Detection and characterization of soluble circulating immune complexes (CICs) in SLE.
Year of commencement: 1993-1996.
Duration: 4 years
Funding agency: ICMR
Outcome :
Study on CIC and their association with various autoantibodies were helpful in knowing antigen-antibody mediated immune complex mechanisms and their correlation with clinical severity main in SLE patients with our without kidney involvement such as in cases of lupus nephritis. CICs were further correlated with renal histopathological findings in lupus nephritis cases.
3. A study of the specificities of platelet antibodies (PAIgG) and anti-idiotype antibodies in cases of autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).
Year of commencement: 1994-1998.
Duration: 5 years
Funding agency: ICMR
Outcome :
This study revealed the novel methodology for the detection of platelet associated imunoglobulins (PAIgG) by antigen capture ELISA. Detection of PAIgG is helpful tool in characterizing ITP patients with clinical severity and outcome of disease. Monitoring PAIgG levels are helpful in better management of ITP patients. A study on anti-idiotype antibodies focused on immunoregulatory mechanisms.
4. Anti-histone and other autoantibodies in b thalassemia major patients on iron chelators .
Year of commencement : 1997-2000
Duration: 4 years
Funding agency: ICMR
Outcome :
This study revealed that the use of iron chelating agents like Deferiprone as well as Desferral makes the thalassemic child more prone for autoantibody development. The presence of anti-histone antibodies which is an indicator for drug induced SLE is also found to be present in high percentage more patient treated with chelators.
5. A study of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) and its association with vasculitidies and other related disorders.
Year of commencement: 2001- 2004.
Duration: 4 years
Funding agency: ICMR
Outcome :
The study of ANCA in systemic vasculitides and other related disorders involved some of the latest non-invasive methodology using a Confocal Laser Scanning (LSM) microscopic technique for the early detection, diagnosis and management of patients.
6. Immunogenetic association in patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) from Mumbai, Maharashtra , India .
Year of commencement: 2004- 2006.
Duration: 3 years
Funding agency: ICMR
Outcome :
Considerable genetic evidence exist for ANCA associated vasculitis and pathogenesis. The study revealed that HLA A1, B17 and B40 alleles are associated in production of ANCA and A*0101-B*5801 haplotype is significantly associated with autoimmune diseases and they may be invariably involved in disease pathogenesis.
7. Anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA) in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
Year of commencement: 2006- 2008.
Duration: 3 years
Funding agency: ICMR
Outcome :
The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence of AECA in lupus nephritis and to compare this with SLE patients without nephritis and to understand the association of AECAs with disease severity based on renal histopathological findings.
On going Projects
1. A study of Fc g receptor polymorphisms in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) : Significance for the clinical expression of the disease.
Year of commencement: 2008- 2010.
Duration: 3 years
Funding agency: ICMR
Expected outcome :
Human SLE pedigree studies with genome wide scans have mapped chromosome 1q21-24 in which Fc g receptors were found as an important locus. Fc receptors are critically involved at multiple stages of an immune response, ranging from antigen presentation and regulation of antibody production as well as end stage effector mechanisms such as inflammation. Possible variation in the Fc receptor polymorphisms will help to know the mechanisms such as antibody affinity, cellular expression and antibody mediated in vivo functions in SLE patients to better understand immunopathogenesis of the disease.
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