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Abstract
The expression of peripheral antigens in the thymus, known as promiscuous gene expression, has been implicated in T cell tolerance and autoimmunity. Here we identified thymic epithelial cells (TECs) as the main cell type that expresses a diverse range of tissue-restricted antigens (TRAs). The TECs of a common autoimmune (non-obese diabetic [NOD]) mouse model express much lower levels of an autoimmune regulator (Aire) and TRAs than normal (Balb/c) TECs. Transfection of an Aire plasmid led to increased levels of TRA expression in cultured TECs from Balb/c and NOD mice; an increase that was enhanced by the presence of thymocytes. These data show that Aire initiates promiscuous gene expression in TECs, and that this function might be under thymocyte control.
| ABBREVIATIONS | ||
| PGE,: | = | promiscuous genes expression; |
| TECs,: | = | thymic epithelial cells; |
| mTECs,: | = | medullary thymic epithelial cells; |
| cTECs,: | = | cortical thymic epithelial cells; |
| TRAs,: | = | tissue-restricted antigens; |
| Aire,: | = | autoimmune regulator; |
| TRAs: | = | tissue-restricted antigens |
| NOD,: | = | non-obese diabetic mice; |
| Igf2,: | = | Insulin-like growth factor 2; |
| SP2,: | = | salivary protein 2. |