2010 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

Aire-mediated mechanism of tolerance against Dsg3, the autoantigen in pemphigus vulgaris

Research Project

Project/Area Number	21791093
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Research Field	Dermatology
Research Institution	Keio University
Principal Investigator	WADA Naoko Keio University, 医学部, 研究員(非常勤) (50306776)
Project Period (FY)	2009 – 2010
Keywords	Aire / 天疱瘡 / 免疫寛容 / 胸腺
Research Abstract	The transcription factor Aire promotes the expression of a wide range of peripheral organ-specific antigens in the thymus, which will serve as self-antigens in negative selection. We demonstrated desmoglein 3 (Dsg3), the autoantigen in pemphigus vulgaris, expressed in mouse thymus dependent on Aire. Aire^<-/-> T cells, but not Aire^<+/+> T cells, induced low levels of anti-Dsg3 IgG production when transferred with Dsg3^<-/-> B cells in Rag2^<-/-> recipient mice. These findings suggest that Aire plays a role in tolerance against Dsg3 through the selection of T cells in thymus.