2016 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report
Elucidation of the mechanisms of TRAs expression independently of Aire
| Project/Area Number |
26670231
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| Research Institution | The University of Tokyo |
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Principal Investigator |
高場 啓之 東京大学, 大学院医学系研究科(医学部), 特任助教 (50637444)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
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| Keywords | Self tolerance |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
A promiscuous expression of a wide array of self-antigens in the thymus is essential for the negative selection of self-reactive T cells and the regulatory T cell development, which are crucial for the establishment of central tolerance. Aire was thought to be the exclusive factor regulating the expression of tissue-restricted antigens, but Fezf2 emerged as a transcription factor playing a key role in this regulation. Fezf2 is selectively expressed in thymic medullary epithelial cells and suppresses the onset of autoimmune reactions. We have studied how tissue restricted-antigens are expressed in the medullary thymic epithelial cells as well as how a defect in this process results in a breakdown of self-tolerance and autoimmune phenotypes.
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Research Products
(4 results)
