Autoimmune regulator gene, Aire, and its relevance to central tolerance against myelin proteins

The autoimmune regulator (Aire) is a key transcription factor that promotes promiscuous expression of tissue-specific antigens by medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTEC), and mediates a role in negative selection of autoreactive T cells. Tagawa et al. reported the central role of Aire in establishing central tolerance to myelin antigen, and its deficiency resulted in spontaneous autoreactivity against central nervous system myelin antigen. The role of mTEC-dependent tolerance in multiple sclerosis must await further study.