National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 5R37AI097457-15

Thymic medullary epithelial cell turnover and control of immune tolerance

The project studies specialized thymic cells derived from Aire-expressing cells to understand their role in T cell maturation and immune tolerance, aiming to prevent autoimmune diseases.

Description

This project aims to understand the properties and function of a novel population of specialized cells within the thymus that are derived from cells that previously expressed Aire, a gene that is important in the prevention of autoimmunity. These post-Aire-expressing cells have unique features that suggest they may support maturation of T cells and induction of other regulatory T cells. The studies will define their characteristics, development, and influence on T cell development, contributing to understanding immune tolerance and autoimmune disease prevention.

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