AIRE : autoimmune regulator
Description
The AIRE gene, short for Autoimmune Regulator, plays a critical role in maintaining immune tolerance by expressing tissue-specific antigens in the thymus. This process, known as ‘negative selection,‘ eliminates self-reactive T cells that could attack the body‘s own tissues. Mutations in the AIRE gene can lead to a range of autoimmune disorders.
Associated Diseases
- Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 (APS-1)
- Hypoparathyroidism
- Adrenal insufficiency
- Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis
- Other autoimmune diseases
Did you know?
AIRE acts like a master switch, turning on the expression of hundreds of tissue-specific genes in the thymus, creating a diverse array of self-antigens for immune system training.
