| 研究実績の概要 |
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.
|
