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Oftedal BE, Berger AH, Bruserud Ø, Goldfarb Y, Sulen A, Breivik L, Hellesen A, Ben-Dor S, Haffner-Krausz R, Knappskog PM, Johansson S, Wolff AS, Bratland E, Abramson J, Husebye ES. A partial form of AIRE deficiency underlies a mild form of autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e169704. [PMID: 37909333 PMCID: PMC10617782 DOI: 10.1172/jci169704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 (APS-1) is caused by mutations in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene. Most patients present with severe chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis and organ-specific autoimmunity from early childhood, but the clinical picture is highly variable. AIRE is crucial for negative selection of T cells, and scrutiny of different patient mutations has previously highlighted many of its molecular mechanisms. In patients with a milder adult-onset phenotype sharing a mutation in the canonical donor splice site of intron 7 (c.879+1G>A), both the predicted altered splicing pattern with loss of exon 7 (AireEx7-/-) and normal full-length AIRE mRNA were found, indicating leaky rather than abolished mRNA splicing. Analysis of a corresponding mouse model demonstrated that the AireEx7-/- mutant had dramatically impaired transcriptional capacity of tissue-specific antigens in medullary thymic epithelial cells but still retained some ability to induce gene expression compared with the complete loss-of-function AireC313X-/- mutant. Our data illustrate an association between AIRE activity and the severity of autoimmune disease, with implications for more common autoimmune diseases associated with AIRE variants, such as primary adrenal insufficiency, pernicious anemia, type 1 diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bergithe Eikeland Oftedal
- Department of Clinical Science and KG Jebsen Center for Autoimmune Diseases, University of Bergen, Norway
- Department of Medicine and
| | - Amund Holte Berger
- Department of Clinical Science and KG Jebsen Center for Autoimmune Diseases, University of Bergen, Norway
- Department of Medical Genetics, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Øyvind Bruserud
- Department of Clinical Science and KG Jebsen Center for Autoimmune Diseases, University of Bergen, Norway
- Department of Medicine and
| | - Yael Goldfarb
- Department of Immunology and Regenerative Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Andre Sulen
- Department of Clinical Science and KG Jebsen Center for Autoimmune Diseases, University of Bergen, Norway
| | - Lars Breivik
- Department of Clinical Science and KG Jebsen Center for Autoimmune Diseases, University of Bergen, Norway
- Department of Medicine and
| | - Alexander Hellesen
- Department of Clinical Science and KG Jebsen Center for Autoimmune Diseases, University of Bergen, Norway
| | - Shifra Ben-Dor
- Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Life Sciences Core Facilities and
| | | | - Per M. Knappskog
- Department of Clinical Science and KG Jebsen Center for Autoimmune Diseases, University of Bergen, Norway
- Department of Medical Genetics, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Stefan Johansson
- Department of Clinical Science and KG Jebsen Center for Autoimmune Diseases, University of Bergen, Norway
- Department of Medical Genetics, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Anette S.B. Wolff
- Department of Clinical Science and KG Jebsen Center for Autoimmune Diseases, University of Bergen, Norway
- Department of Medicine and
| | - Eirik Bratland
- Department of Clinical Science and KG Jebsen Center for Autoimmune Diseases, University of Bergen, Norway
- Department of Medical Genetics, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Jakub Abramson
- Department of Immunology and Regenerative Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Eystein Sverre Husebye
- Department of Clinical Science and KG Jebsen Center for Autoimmune Diseases, University of Bergen, Norway
- Department of Medicine and
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Zhang Y, Lu Y, Gao Y, Liang X, Zhang R, Wang X, Zou X, Yang W. Effects of Aire on perforin expression in BMDCs via TLR7/8 and its therapeutic effect on type 1 diabetes. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 117:109890. [PMID: 36805202 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.109890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Type 1 diabetes, as a kind of autoimmune diseases, usually results from the broken-down of self-tolerance. Autoimmune regulator (Aire), as a transcription factor, induces peripheral tolerance by regulating Toll-like receptor (TLR) expression in dendritic cells (DCs). Several studies have recently identified a small population of perforin-expressing DCs, which is an important population of tolerogenic DCs (tolDCs) that restricts autoreactive T cells in vivo through a perforin-mediated mechanism. Thus, the present study explored the specific relationship among Aire, perforin-expressing DCs and immune tolerance, as well as their roles in type 1 diabetes. METHODS We conducted studies based on the Aire-overexpressing bone marrow-derived dendritic cell (BMDC) model. And through in vitro and in vivo experiments to observe that Aire-overexpressing BMDCs which express perforin induce immune tolerance and treat type 1 diabetes via TLR7/8. RESULTS Aire enhances the expression of perforin in BMDCs after treatment with the TLR7/8 ligand as well as promotes the expression of TLR7/8 and myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88)-dependent pathway molecules. Aire-overexpressing BMDCs mediate apoptosis of allogeneic CD8+ T cells via perforin in vitro. Moreover, Aire-overexpressing BMDCs enhance the therapeutic effect of type 1 diabetes in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice via perforin and induce apoptosis of autoreactive CD8+ T cells in vivo. CONCLUSIONS These results provide an experimental basis for comprehensively elucidating the role and significance of Aire expression in peripheral DCs, thereby providing new ideas for the treatment of autoimmune diseases by using Aire as a target to induce the production of perforin-expressing DCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yaoping Lu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yan Gao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiaojing Liang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Rongchao Zhang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiaoya Wang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xueyang Zou
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Wei Yang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
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Characterisation of APS-1 Experimental Models Is Crucial for Development of Novel Therapies. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 2023:7960443. [PMID: 36685668 PMCID: PMC9848810 DOI: 10.1155/2023/7960443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1 (APS-1) is an inherited autosomal disorder. The most common clinical features of the disease include adrenocortical failure, hypoparathyroidism (HP), and chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC). APS-1 is caused by mutations in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene. AIRE is a transcriptional factor involved in the regulation of thousands of genes in the thymus. It facilitates central tolerance by promoting the ectopic expression of tissue-specific antigens (TSAs) in medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs), leading to the deletion of self-reactive thymocytes. Several Aire-deficient mice were developed separately, on different backgrounds; seven published Aire knockout mice show a variety of phenotypes depending on the strain used to generate the experimental model. The first Aire-deficient mice were generated on a "black 6" background almost 20 years ago. The model showed mild phenotype with relatively modest penetrance compared to models generated on BALBc or NOD backgrounds. The generation of all these experimental models is crucial for development and testing new therapeutics as well as reading the response to treatments.
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Santos JC, Dametto M, Masson AP, Faça VM, Bonacin R, Donadi EA, Passos GA. The AIRE G228W mutation disturbs the interaction of AIRE with its partner molecule SIRT1. Front Immunol 2022; 13:948419. [PMID: 36148232 PMCID: PMC9485725 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.948419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The autoimmune regulator (AIRE) protein functions as a tetramer, interacting with partner proteins to form the “AIRE complex,” which relieves RNA Pol II stalling in the chromatin of medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs). AIRE is the primary mTEC transcriptional controller, promoting the expression of a large set of peripheral tissue antigen genes implicated in the negative selection of self-reactive thymocytes. Under normal conditions, the SIRT1 protein temporarily interacts with AIRE and deacetylates K residues of the AIRE SAND domain. Once the AIRE SAND domain is deacetylated, the binding with SIRT1 is undone, allowing the AIRE complex to proceed downstream with the RNA Pol II to the elongation phase of transcription. Considering that the in silico and in vitro binding of the AIRE SAND domain with SIRT1 provides a powerful model system for studying the dominant SAND G228W mutation mechanism, which causes the autoimmune polyglandular syndrome-1, we integrated computational molecular modeling, docking, dynamics between the whole SAND domain with SIRT1, and surface plasmon resonance using a peptide harboring the 211 to 230 residues of the SAND domain, to compare the structure and energetics of binding/release between AIRE G228 (wild-type) and W228 (mutant) SAND domain to SIRT1. We observed that the G228W mutation in the SAND domain negatively influences the AIRE-SIRT1 interaction. The disturbed interaction might cause a disruption in the binding of the AIRE SAND domain with the SIRT1 catalytic site, impairing the AIRE complex to proceed downstream with RNA Pol II.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jadson C. Santos
- Molecular Immunogenetics Group, Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Mariangela Dametto
- Renato Archer Information Technology Center (CTI Brazil), Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Masson
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Vitor M. Faça
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Bonacin
- Renato Archer Information Technology Center (CTI Brazil), Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Eduardo A. Donadi
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Geraldo Aleixo Passos
- Molecular Immunogenetics Group, Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Department of Basic and Oral Biology, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
- Center for Cell-Based Therapy in Dentistry, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Geraldo Aleixo Passos,
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Shevyrev D, Tereshchenko V, Kozlov V, Sennikov S. Phylogeny, Structure, Functions, and Role of AIRE in the Formation of T-Cell Subsets. Cells 2022; 11:194. [PMID: 35053310 PMCID: PMC8773594 DOI: 10.3390/cells11020194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well known that the most important feature of adaptive immunity is the specificity that provides highly precise recognition of the self, altered-self, and non-self. Due to the high specificity of antigen recognition, the adaptive immune system participates in the maintenance of genetic homeostasis, supports multicellularity, and protects an organism from different pathogens at a qualitatively different level than innate immunity. This seemingly simple property is based on millions of years of evolution that led to the formation of diversification mechanisms of antigen-recognizing receptors and later to the emergence of a system of presentation of the self and non-self antigens. The latter could have a crucial significance because the presentation of nearly complete diversity of auto-antigens in the thymus allows for the "calibration" of the forming repertoires of T-cells for the recognition of self, altered-self, and non-self antigens that are presented on the periphery. The central role in this process belongs to promiscuous gene expression by the thymic epithelial cells that express nearly the whole spectrum of proteins encoded in the genome, meanwhile maintaining their cellular identity. This complex mechanism requires strict control that is executed by several transcription factors. One of the most important of them is AIRE. This noncanonical transcription factor not only regulates the processes of differentiation and expression of peripheral tissue-specific antigens in the thymic medullar epithelial cells but also controls intercellular interactions in the thymus. Besides, it participates in an increase in the diversity and transfer of presented antigens and thus influences the formation of repertoires of maturing thymocytes. Due to these complex effects, AIRE is also called a transcriptional regulator. In this review, we briefly described the history of AIRE discovery, its structure, functions, and role in the formation of antigen-recognizing receptor repertoires, along with other transcription factors. We focused on the phylogenetic prerequisites for the development of modern adaptive immunity and emphasized the importance of the antigen presentation system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniil Shevyrev
- Research Institute for Fundamental and Clinical Immunology (RIFCI), 630099 Novosibirsk, Russia; (V.T.); (V.K.); (S.S.)
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Peterson P, Kisand K, Kluger N, Ranki A. Loss of AIRE-Mediated Immune Tolerance and the Skin. J Invest Dermatol 2021; 142:760-767. [PMID: 34535292 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The core function of the immune response is to distinguish between self and foreign. The multiorgan human autoimmune disease, autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED/autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1) is an example of what happens in the body when central immune tolerance goes astray. APECED revealed the existence and function of the autoimmune regulator gene, which has a central role in the development of tolerance. The discovery of autoimmune regulator was the start of a new period in immunology and in understanding the role of central and peripheral tolerance, also very relevant to many skin diseases as we highlight in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pärt Peterson
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kai Kisand
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Nicolas Kluger
- Department of Dermatology, Allergology and Venereology, Clinicum, University of Helsinki, and Inflammation Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Annamari Ranki
- Department of Dermatology, Allergology and Venereology, Clinicum, University of Helsinki, and Inflammation Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
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Perniola R, Fierabracci A, Falorni A. Autoimmune Addison's Disease as Part of the Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome Type 1: Historical Overview and Current Evidence. Front Immunol 2021; 12:606860. [PMID: 33717087 PMCID: PMC7953157 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.606860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1 (APS1) is caused by pathogenic variants of the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene, located in the chromosomal region 21q22.3. The related protein, AIRE, enhances thymic self-representation and immune self-tolerance by localization to chromatin and anchorage to multimolecular complexes involved in the initiation and post-initiation events of tissue-specific antigen-encoding gene transcription. Once synthesized, the self-antigens are presented to, and cause deletion of, the self-reactive thymocyte clones. The clinical diagnosis of APS1 is based on the classic triad idiopathic hypoparathyroidism (HPT)—chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis—autoimmune Addison's disease (AAD), though new criteria based on early non-endocrine manifestations have been proposed. HPT is in most cases the first endocrine component of the syndrome; however, APS1-associated AAD has received the most accurate biochemical, clinical, and immunological characterization. Here is a comprehensive review of the studies on APS1-associated AAD from initial case reports to the most recent scientific findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Perniola
- Department of Pediatrics-Neonatal Intensive Care, V. Fazzi Hospital, ASL LE, Lecce, Italy
| | - Alessandra Fierabracci
- Infectivology and Clinical Trials Research Department, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Falorni
- Section of Internal Medicine and Endocrinological and Metabolic Sciences, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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Oliveira EH, Assis AF, Speck-Hernandez CA, Duarte MJ, Passos GA. Aire Gene Influences the Length of the 3' UTR of mRNAs in Medullary Thymic Epithelial Cells. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1039. [PMID: 32547551 PMCID: PMC7270294 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Aire is a transcriptional controller in medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) modulating a set of peripheral tissue antigens (PTAs) and non-PTA mRNAs as well as miRNAs. Even miRNAs exerting posttranscriptional control of mRNAs in mTECs, the composition of miRNA-mRNA networks may differ. Under reduction in Aire expression, networks exhibited greater miRNA diversity controlling mRNAs. Variations in the number of 3'UTR binding sites of Aire-dependent mRNAs may represent a crucial factor that influence the miRNA interaction. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed through bioinformatics the length of 3'UTRs of a large set of Aire-dependent mRNAs. The data were obtained from existing RNA-seq of mTECs of wild type or Aire-knockout (KO) mice. We used computational algorithms as FASTQC, STAR and HTSEQ for sequence alignment and counting reads, DESEQ2 for the differential expression, 3USS for the alternative 3'UTRs and TAPAS for the alternative polyadenylation sites. We identified 152 differentially expressed mRNAs between these samples comprising those that encode PTAs as well as transcription regulators. In Aire KO mTECs, most of these mRNAs featured an increase in the length of their 3'UTRs originating additional miRNA binding sites and new miRNA controllers. Results from the in silico analysis were statistically significant and the predicted miRNA-mRNA interactions were thermodynamically stable. Even with no in vivo or in vitro experiments, they were adequate to show that lack of Aire in mTECs might favor the downregulation of PTA mRNAs and transcription regulators via miRNA control. This could unbalance the overall transcriptional activity in mTECs and thus the self-representation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernna H. Oliveira
- Molecular Immunogenetics Group, Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | | | - Cesar A. Speck-Hernandez
- Molecular Immunogenetics Group, Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Max Jordan Duarte
- Molecular Immunogenetics Group, Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Geraldo A. Passos
- Molecular Immunogenetics Group, Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Department of Basic and Oral Biology, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, USP, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
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9
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Abstract
About two decades ago, cloning of the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene materialized one of the most important actors on the scene of self-tolerance. Thymic transcription of genes encoding tissue-specific antigens (ts-ags) is activated by AIRE protein and embodies the essence of thymic self-representation. Pathogenic AIRE variants cause the autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1, which is a rare and complex disease that is gaining attention in research on autoimmunity. The animal models of disease, although not identically reproducing the human picture, supply fundamental information on mechanisms and extent of AIRE action: thanks to its multidomain structure, AIRE localizes to chromatin enclosing the target genes, binds to histones, and offers an anchorage to multimolecular complexes involved in initiation and post-initiation events of gene transcription. In addition, AIRE enhances mRNA diversity by favoring alternative mRNA splicing. Once synthesized, ts-ags are presented to, and cause deletion of the self-reactive thymocyte clones. However, AIRE function is not restricted to the activation of gene transcription. AIRE would control presentation and transfer of self-antigens for thymic cellular interplay: such mechanism is aimed at increasing the likelihood of engagement of the thymocytes that carry the corresponding T-cell receptors. Another fundamental role of AIRE in promoting self-tolerance is related to the development of thymocyte anergy, as thymic self-representation shapes at the same time the repertoire of regulatory T cells. Finally, AIRE seems to replicate its action in the secondary lymphoid organs, albeit the cell lineage detaining such property has not been fully characterized. Delineation of AIRE functions adds interesting data to the knowledge of the mechanisms of self-tolerance and introduces exciting perspectives of therapeutic interventions against the related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Perniola
- Department of Pediatrics, Neonatal Intensive Care, Vito Fazzi Regional Hospital, Lecce, Italy
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10
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Passos GA, Speck‐Hernandez CA, Assis AF, Mendes‐da‐Cruz DA. Update on Aire and thymic negative selection. Immunology 2018; 153:10-20. [PMID: 28871661 PMCID: PMC5721245 DOI: 10.1111/imm.12831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Revised: 08/24/2017] [Accepted: 08/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Twenty years ago, the autoimmune regulator (Aire) gene was associated with autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy, and was cloned and sequenced. Its importance goes beyond its abstract link with human autoimmune disease. Aire identification opened new perspectives to better understand the molecular basis of central tolerance and self-non-self distinction, the main properties of the immune system. Since 1997, a growing number of immunologists and molecular geneticists have made important discoveries about the function of Aire, which is essentially a pleiotropic gene. Aire is one of the functional markers in medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs), controlling their differentiation and expression of peripheral tissue antigens (PTAs), mTEC-thymocyte adhesion and the expression of microRNAs, among other functions. With Aire, the immunological tolerance became even more apparent from the molecular genetics point of view. Currently, mTECs represent the most unusual cells because they express almost the entire functional genome but still maintain their identity. Due to the enormous diversity of PTAs, this uncommon gene expression pattern was termed promiscuous gene expression, the interpretation of which is essentially immunological - i.e. it is related to self-representation in the thymus. Therefore, this knowledge is strongly linked to the negative selection of autoreactive thymocytes. In this update, we focus on the most relevant results of Aire as a transcriptional and post-transcriptional controller of PTAs in mTECs, its mechanism of action, and its influence on the negative selection of autoreactive thymocytes as the bases of the induction of central tolerance and prevention of autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geraldo A. Passos
- Molecular Immunogenetics GroupDepartment of GeneticsRibeirão Preto Medical SchoolUniversity of São PauloRibeirão PretoSPBrazil
- Discipline of Genetics and Molecular BiologyDepartment of Morphology, Physiology and Basic PathologySchool of Dentistry of Ribeirão PretoUniversity of São PauloRibeirão PretoSPBrazil
| | - Cesar A. Speck‐Hernandez
- Graduate Programme in Basic and Applied ImmunologyRibeirão Preto Medical SchoolUniversity of São PauloRibeirão PretoSPBrazil
| | - Amanda F. Assis
- Molecular Immunogenetics GroupDepartment of GeneticsRibeirão Preto Medical SchoolUniversity of São PauloRibeirão PretoSPBrazil
| | - Daniella A. Mendes‐da‐Cruz
- Laboratory on Thymus ResearchOswaldo Cruz InstituteOswaldo Cruz FoundationRio de JaneiroRJBrazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology on NeuroimmunomodulationRio de JaneiroRJBrazil
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11
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Conteduca G, Fenoglio D, Parodi A, Battaglia F, Kalli F, Negrini S, Tardito S, Ferrera F, Salis A, Millo E, Pasquale G, Barra G, Damonte G, Indiveri F, Ferrone S, Filaci G. AIRE polymorphism, melanoma antigen-specific T cell immunity, and susceptibility to melanoma. Oncotarget 2016; 7:60872-60884. [PMID: 27563821 PMCID: PMC5308622 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.11506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
AIRE is involved in susceptibility to melanoma perhaps regulating T cell immunity against melanoma antigens (MA). To address this issue, AIRE and MAGEB2 expressions were measured by real time PCR in medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) from two strains of C57BL/6 mice bearing either T or C allelic variant of the rs1800522 AIRE SNP. Moreover, the extent of apoptosis induced by mTECs in MAGEB2-specific T cells and the susceptibility to in vivo melanoma B16F10 cell challenge were compared in the two mouse strains.The C allelic variant, protective in humans against melanoma, induced lower AIRE and MAGEB2 expression in C57BL/6 mouse mTECs than the T allele. Moreover, mTECs expressing the C allelic variant induced lower extent of apoptosis in MAGEB2-specific syngeneic T cells than mTECs bearing the T allelic variant (p < 0.05). Vaccination against MAGEB2 induced higher frequency of MAGEB2-specific CTL and exerted higher protective effect against melanoma development in mice bearing the CC AIRE genotype than in those bearing the TT one (p < 0.05). These findings show that allelic variants of one AIRE SNP may differentially shape the MA-specific T cell repertoire potentially influencing susceptibility to melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniela Fenoglio
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS AOU San Martino – IST, Genoa, Italy
| | - Alessia Parodi
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Florinda Battaglia
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesca Kalli
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Simone Negrini
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Samuele Tardito
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesca Ferrera
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Annalisa Salis
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Enrico Millo
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Pasquale
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Giusi Barra
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Gianluca Damonte
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesco Indiveri
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Soldano Ferrone
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gilberto Filaci
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS AOU San Martino – IST, Genoa, Italy
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12
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Soumya V, Padmanabhan RA, Titus S, Laloraya M. Murine uterine decidualization is a novel function of autoimmune regulator-beyond immune tolerance. Am J Reprod Immunol 2016; 76:224-34. [PMID: 27432359 DOI: 10.1111/aji.12538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2016] [Accepted: 06/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2023] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy, candidiasis, and ectodermal dystrophy (APECED, APS-1) patients characterized by Aire (autoimmune regulator) mutations and Aire homozygous knockouts (Aire(-/-) ) exhibit infertility. It is not clear as to what contributes to infertility in the above. METHOD OF STUDY This study investigates the expression of "AIRE in the uterus" and its contribution to early pregnancy of mice by using quantitative real-time PCR analysis, immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and in vivo Aire silencing experiments. RESULTS Aire (Isoform 1a) is expressed in the uterus during the "window of implantation" and decidualization. In vivo Aire silencing interfered with formation of implantation sites and stromal cell transformation by regulating bone morphogenetic protein-2,4 (Bmp2, Bmp4), homeobox A10 (Hoxa10), and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 1(Igfbp1) leading to pregnancy failure. CONCLUSION Our consolidated results on extrathymic uterine expression of AIRE during early pregnancy and decidualization and impaired fertility on in vivo silencing are suggestive of its importance in pregnancy via a role beyond immune tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasanthi Soumya
- Female Reproduction and Metabolic Syndromes Laboratory, Division of Molecular Reproduction, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Renjini A Padmanabhan
- Female Reproduction and Metabolic Syndromes Laboratory, Division of Molecular Reproduction, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Shiny Titus
- Female Reproduction and Metabolic Syndromes Laboratory, Division of Molecular Reproduction, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Malini Laloraya
- Female Reproduction and Metabolic Syndromes Laboratory, Division of Molecular Reproduction, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
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13
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Haljasorg U, Bichele R, Saare M, Guha M, Maslovskaja J, Kõnd K, Remm A, Pihlap M, Tomson L, Kisand K, Laan M, Peterson P. A highly conserved NF-κB-responsive enhancer is critical for thymic expression of Aire in mice. Eur J Immunol 2015; 45:3246-56. [PMID: 26364592 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201545928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2015] [Revised: 08/19/2015] [Accepted: 09/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Autoimmune regulator (Aire) has a unique expression pattern in thymic medullary epithelial cells (mTECs), in which it plays a critical role in the activation of tissue-specific antigens. The expression of Aire in mTECs is activated by receptor activator of nuclear factor κB (RANK) signaling; however, the molecular mechanism behind this activation is unknown. Here, we characterize a conserved noncoding sequence 1 (CNS1) containing two NF-κB binding sites upstream of the Aire coding region. We show that CNS1-deficient mice lack thymic expression of Aire and share several features of Aire-knockout mice, including downregulation of Aire-dependent genes, impaired terminal differentiation of the mTEC population, and reduced production of thymic Treg cells. In addition, we show that CNS1 is indispensable for RANK-induced Aire expression and that CNS1 is activated by NF-κB pathway complexes containing RelA. Together, our results indicate that CNS1 is a critical link between RANK signaling, NF-κB activation, and thymic expression of Aire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uku Haljasorg
- Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Rudolf Bichele
- Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Mario Saare
- Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Mithu Guha
- Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Julia Maslovskaja
- Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Karin Kõnd
- Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Anu Remm
- Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Maire Pihlap
- Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Laura Tomson
- Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kai Kisand
- Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Martti Laan
- Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Pärt Peterson
- Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
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14
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Yanagihara T, Sanematsu F, Sato T, Uruno T, Duan X, Tomino T, Harada Y, Watanabe M, Wang Y, Tanaka Y, Nakanishi Y, Suyama M, Yoshinori F. Intronic regulation of Aire expression by Jmjd6 for self-tolerance induction in the thymus. Nat Commun 2015; 6:8820. [PMID: 26531897 PMCID: PMC4667615 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2015] [Accepted: 10/07/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The thymus has spatially distinct microenvironments, the cortex and the medulla, where the developing T-cells are selected to mature or die through the interaction with thymic stromal cells. To establish the immunological self in the thymus, medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) express diverse sets of tissue-specific self-antigens (TSAs). This ectopic expression of TSAs largely depends on the transcriptional regulator Aire, yet the mechanism controlling Aire expression itself remains unknown. Here, we show that Jmjd6, a dioxygenase that catalyses lysyl hydroxylation of splicing regulatory proteins, is critical for Aire expression. Although Jmjd6 deficiency does not affect abundance of Aire transcript, the intron 2 of Aire gene is not effectively spliced out in the absence of Jmjd6, resulting in marked reduction of mature Aire protein in mTECs and spontaneous development of multi-organ autoimmunity in mice. These results highlight the importance of intronic regulation in controlling Aire protein expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toyoshi Yanagihara
- Division of Immunogenetics, Department of Immunobiology and Neuroscience, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
- Research Institute for Diseases of the Chest, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Fumiyuki Sanematsu
- Division of Immunogenetics, Department of Immunobiology and Neuroscience, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
- Research Centre for Advanced Immunology, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Sato
- Division of Bioinformatics, Multi-scale Research Centre for Medical Science, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Takehito Uruno
- Division of Immunogenetics, Department of Immunobiology and Neuroscience, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
- Research Centre for Advanced Immunology, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Xuefeng Duan
- Division of Immunogenetics, Department of Immunobiology and Neuroscience, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
- Research Centre for Advanced Immunology, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Takahiro Tomino
- Division of Immunogenetics, Department of Immunobiology and Neuroscience, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Yosuke Harada
- Division of Immunogenetics, Department of Immunobiology and Neuroscience, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Mayuki Watanabe
- Division of Immunogenetics, Department of Immunobiology and Neuroscience, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Yuqing Wang
- Research Centre for Advanced Immunology, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Yoshihiko Tanaka
- Section of Infection Biology, Department of Functional Bioscience, Fukuoka Dental College, 2-15-1 Tamura, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka 814-0175, Japan
| | - Yoichi Nakanishi
- Research Institute for Diseases of the Chest, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Mikita Suyama
- Division of Bioinformatics, Multi-scale Research Centre for Medical Science, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Fukui Yoshinori
- Division of Immunogenetics, Department of Immunobiology and Neuroscience, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
- Research Centre for Advanced Immunology, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
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15
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Perniola R, Musco G. The biophysical and biochemical properties of the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) protein. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA 2014; 1842:326-37. [PMID: 24275490 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2013.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2013] [Revised: 11/11/2013] [Accepted: 11/18/2013] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
AIRE (for autoimmune regulator) is a multidomain protein that performs a fundamental function in the thymus and possibly in the secondary lymphoid organs: the regulation, especially in the sense of activation, of the process of gene transcription in cell lines deputed to the presentation of self-antigens to the maturing T lymphocytes. The apoptosis of the elements bearing T-cell receptors with critical affinity for the exhibited self-antigens prevents the escape of autoreactive clones and represents a simple and efficient mechanism of deletional self-tolerance. However, AIRE action relies on an articulated complex of biophysical and biochemical properties, in most cases attributable to single subspecialized domains. Here a thorough review of the matter is presented, with a privileged look at the pathogenic changes of AIRE that interfere with such properties and lead to the impairment in its chief function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Perniola
- Department of Pediatrics - Neonatal Intensive Care, V. Fazzi Regional Hospital, Piazza F. Muratore, I-73100, Lecce, Italy.
| | - Giovanna Musco
- Biomolecular NMR Laboratory, Center of Translational Genomics and Bioinformatics, Dulbecco Telethon Institute at San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, I-20132, Milan, Italy.
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16
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Perniola R. Expression of the autoimmune regulator gene and its relevance to the mechanisms of central and peripheral tolerance. Clin Dev Immunol 2012; 2012:207403. [PMID: 23125865 PMCID: PMC3485510 DOI: 10.1155/2012/207403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2012] [Revised: 08/26/2012] [Accepted: 09/11/2012] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 (APS-1) is a monogenic disease due to pathogenic variants occurring in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene. Its related protein, AIRE, activates the transcription of genes encoding for tissue-specific antigens (TsAgs) in a subset of medullary thymic epithelial cells: the presentation of TsAgs to the maturating thymocytes induces the apoptosis of the autoreactive clones and constitutes the main form of central tolerance. Dysregulation of thymic AIRE expression in genetically transmitted and acquired diseases other than APS-1 may contribute to further forms of autoimmunity. As AIRE and its murine homolog are also expressed in the secondary lymphoid organs, the extent and relevance of AIRE participation in the mechanisms of peripheral tolerance need to be thoroughly defined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Perniola
- Neonatal Intensive Care, Department of Pediatrics, V. Fazzi Regional Hospital, Piazza F. Muratore, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
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17
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Lovewell T, Tazi-Ahnini R. Models to explore the molecular function and regulation of AIRE. EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL HUMAN GENETICS 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmhg.2011.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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18
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Eldershaw SA, Sansom DM, Narendran P. Expression and function of the autoimmune regulator (Aire) gene in non-thymic tissue. Clin Exp Immunol 2011; 163:296-308. [PMID: 21303359 PMCID: PMC3048612 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2010.04316.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/29/2010] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Educational immune tolerance to self-antigens is induced primarily in the thymus where tissue-restricted antigens (TRAs) are presented to T lymphocytes by cells of the thymic stroma - a process known as central tolerance. The expression of these TRAs is controlled in part by a transcription factor encoded by the autoimmune regulatory (Aire) gene. Patients with a mutation of this gene develop a condition known as autoimmune-polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal-dystrophy (APECED), characterized by autoimmune destruction of endocrine organs, fungal infection and dental abnormalities. There is now evidence for TRA expression and for mechanisms of functional tolerance outside the thymus. This has led to a number of studies examining Aire expression and function at these extra-thymic sites. These investigations have been conducted across different animal models using different techniques and have often shown discrepant results. Here we review the studies of extra thymic Aire and discuss the evidence for its expression and function in both human and murine systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Eldershaw
- School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK. ,uk
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19
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Hubert FX, Kinkel SA, Webster KE, Cannon P, Crewther PE, Proeitto AI, Wu L, Heath WR, Scott HS. A specific anti-Aire antibody reveals aire expression is restricted to medullary thymic epithelial cells and not expressed in periphery. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2008; 180:3824-32. [PMID: 18322189 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.180.6.3824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy is an autoimmune disorder caused by mutations in the autoimmune regulator gene AIRE. We examined the expression of Aire in different organs (thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes) in C57BL/6 mice, using a novel rat mAb, specific for murine Aire. Using flow cytometry, directly fluorochrome-labeled mAb revealed Aire expression in a rare thymic cellular subset that was CD45(-), expressed low levels of Ly51, and was high for MHC-II and EpCam. This subset also expressed a specific pattern of costimulatory molecules, including CD40, CD80, and PD-L1. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that Aire(+) cells were specifically localized to the thymus or, more precisely, to the cortico-medulla junction and medulla, correlating with the site of negative selection. Although in agreement with previous studies, low levels of Aire mRNA was detected in all dendritic cell subtypes however lacZ staining, immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry failed to detect Aire protein. At a cellular level, Aire was expressed in perinuclear speckles within the nucleus. This report provides the first detailed analysis of Aire protein expression, highlighting the precise location at both the tissue and cellular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- François-Xavier Hubert
- Division of Molecular and Medicine, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
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20
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Ferguson BJ, Alexander C, Rossi SW, Liiv I, Rebane A, Worth CL, Wong J, Laan M, Peterson P, Jenkinson EJ, Anderson G, Scott HS, Cooke A, Rich T. AIRE's CARD revealed, a new structure for central tolerance provokes transcriptional plasticity. J Biol Chem 2008; 283:1723-1731. [PMID: 17974569 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m707211200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Developing T cells encounter peripheral self-antigens in the thymus in order to delete autoreactive clones. It is now known that the autoimmune regulator protein (AIRE), which is expressed in thymic medullary epithelial cells, plays a key role in regulating the thymic transcription of these peripheral tissue-specific antigens. Mutations in the AIRE gene are associated with a severe multiorgan autoimmune syndrome (APECED), and autoimmune reactivities are manifest in AIRE-deficient mice. Functional AIRE protein is expressed as distinct nuclear puncta, although no structural basis existed to explain their relevance to disease. In addressing the cell biologic basis for APECED, we made the unexpected discovery that an AIRE mutation hot spot lies in a caspase recruitment domain. Combined homology modeling and in vitro data now show how APECED mutations influence the activity of this transcriptional regulator. We also provide novel in vivo evidence for AIRE's association with a global transcription cofactor, which may underlie AIRE's focal, genome-wide, alteration of the transcriptome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian J Ferguson
- Department of Pathology, Divisions of Immunology and Cellular Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QP, United Kingdom
| | - Clare Alexander
- Department of Pathology, Divisions of Immunology and Cellular Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QP, United Kingdom
| | - Simona W Rossi
- Medical Research Council Centre for Immune Regulation, Institute for Biomedical Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Ingrid Liiv
- Molecular Pathology, University of Tartu, Biomedicum, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ana Rebane
- Molecular Pathology, University of Tartu, Biomedicum, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Catherine L Worth
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QP, United Kingdom
| | - Joyce Wong
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QP, United Kingdom
| | - Martti Laan
- Molecular Pathology, University of Tartu, Biomedicum, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Pärt Peterson
- Molecular Pathology, University of Tartu, Biomedicum, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Eric J Jenkinson
- Medical Research Council Centre for Immune Regulation, Institute for Biomedical Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Graham Anderson
- Medical Research Council Centre for Immune Regulation, Institute for Biomedical Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Hamish S Scott
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 3050 Melbourne, Australia
| | - Anne Cooke
- Department of Pathology, Divisions of Immunology and Cellular Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QP, United Kingdom
| | - Tina Rich
- Department of Pathology, Divisions of Immunology and Cellular Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QP, United Kingdom.
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21
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Peterson P, Pitkänen J, Sillanpää N, Krohn K. Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy (APECED): a model disease to study molecular aspects of endocrine autoimmunity. Clin Exp Immunol 2004; 135:348-57. [PMID: 15008965 PMCID: PMC1808970 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2004.02384.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/12/2003] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- P Peterson
- Institute of Medical Technology and University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
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22
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Abstract
The autoimmune regulator (AIRE) is a gene where mutations cause the recessively inherited disorder called autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) or autoimmune polyendocrinopathy syndrome type 1 (APS1). Variable combinations of autoimmune endocrine diseases such as Addison's disease, hypoparathyroidism, and type 1 diabetes characterize APECED. The AIRE protein has several domains indicative of a transcriptional regulator. AIRE contains two PHD (plant homeodomain) type zinc fingers, four nuclear receptor binding LXXLL motifs, a putative DNA-binding domain named SAND and, in addition, a highly conserved N-terminal domain similar to the homogenously staining region domain of the Sp100 protein. At the subcellular level, AIRE is expressed in nuclear dots resembling promyelocytic leukemia nuclear bodies, which are associated with several transcriptionally active proteins. AIRE is primarily expressed in thymic medullary epithelial cells and monocyte-dendritic cells in the thymus but also in a rare subset of cells in the lymph nodes, spleen and fetal liver. The disease, caused by mutations in AIRE, its function as a protein involved in transcription, and its restricted expression in cells important in negative selection, all together suggest that AIRE is a central protein in the maintenance of immune tolerance. In this review of the recent literature we discuss the results of these studies with particular attention on the AIRE expression pattern and its function as a transcriptional regulator, as well as the effects of patient mutations on the molecular characteristics of the protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Pitkänen
- Institute of Medical Technology, University of Tampere and Tampere Hospital, Finland
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23
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Abstract
Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis is a primary immune deficiency presenting as an inability to clear fungal infections and consequently as persisting and recurring infections of the skin and mucous membranes with yeasts, mostly Candida albicans. Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis is a heterogeneous clinical syndrome which usually presents in childhood and can have an autosomal recessive, dominant or sporadic mode of inheritance. Most chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis patients also develop accompanying endocrine and inflammatory disorders that suggest an underlying deregulation of the immune system. It has long been recognized that protection from mucocutaneous candidiasis relies on cell-mediated immunity and studies on animal models have highlighted the essential role of type 1 cytokines in protection against Candida spp. Recent data in patients with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis have documented altered patterns of cytokine production in response to Candida spp. with decreased production of some but not all type 1 cytokines and increased levels of interleukin-10. The defect underlying altered cytokine production remains unknown but studies are in progress addressing the putative role of dendritic cells and pattern recognition receptors in directing cytokine responses. These novel insights into immune mechanisms responsible for protection against Candida spp. are opening new possibilities of immunomodulation and vaccination that could prove beneficial in the management of chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desa Lilic
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Medical School, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
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24
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Halonen M, Pelto-Huikko M, Eskelin P, Peltonen L, Ulmanen I, Kolmer M. Subcellular location and expression pattern of autoimmune regulator (Aire), the mouse orthologue for human gene defective in autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy (APECED). J Histochem Cytochem 2001; 49:197-208. [PMID: 11156688 DOI: 10.1177/002215540104900207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy (APECED), also known as autoimmune polyglandular syndrome Type I (APS1), is an autosomal recessive autoimmune disease caused by mutations in a gene designated as AIRE (autoimmune regulator). Here we have studied the expression of Aire in transfected cell lines and in adult mouse tissues. Our results show that Aire has a dual subcellular location and that it is expressed in multiple immunologically relevant tissues such as the thymus, spleen, lymph nodes, and bone marrow. In addition, Aire expression was detected in various other tissues such as kidney, testis, adrenal glands, liver, and ovary. These findings suggest that APECED protein might also have a function(s) outside the immune system.(J Histochem Cytochem 49:197-208, 2001)
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Affiliation(s)
- M Halonen
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland
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25
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Wilsbacher LD, Sangoram AM, Antoch MP, Takahashi JS. The Mouse Clock Locus: Sequence and Comparative Analysis of 204 Kb from Mouse Chromosome 5. Genome Res 2000. [DOI: 10.1101/gr.155400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The Clock gene encodes a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH)–PAS transcription factor that regulates circadian rhythms in mice. We previously cloned Clock in mouse and human using a battery of behavioral and molecular techniques, including shotgun sequencing of two bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones. Here we report the finished sequence of a 204-kb region from mouse chromosome 5. This region contains the complete loci for the Clock andTpardl (pFT27) genes, as well as the 3′ partial locus of the Neuromedin U gene; sequence analysis also suggests the presence of two previously unidentified genes. In addition, we provide a comparative genomic sequence analysis with the syntenic region from human chromosome 4. Finally, a new BAC transgenic line indicates that the genomic region that is sufficient for rescue of the Clock mutant phenotype is no greater than 120 kb and tightly flanks the 3′ end of the Clockgene.[The sequence data reported in this paper have been submitted to the GenBank data library under accession no. AF146793.]
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26
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Zuklys S, Balciunaite G, Agarwal A, Fasler-Kan E, Palmer E, Holländer GA. Normal thymic architecture and negative selection are associated with Aire expression, the gene defective in the autoimmune-polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED). JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2000; 165:1976-83. [PMID: 10925280 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.165.4.1976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 176] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
T cell development is tightly controlled by thymic stromal cells. Alterations in stromal architecture affect T cell maturation and the development of self-tolerance. The monogenic autoimmune syndrome APECED (autoimmune-polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy) is characterized by the loss of self-tolerance to multiple organs. Although mutations in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene are responsible for this disease, the function of AIRE is not known. Here we report on the spatial and temporal pattern of murine Aire expression during thymic ontogeny and T cell selection. Early during development, thymic Aire transcription is critically dependent on RelB and occurs in epithelial cells in response to lymphocyte-mediated signals. In adult tissue, Aire expression is confined to the medulla and the corticomedullary junction, where it is modulated by thymocytes undergoing negative selection. Aire may determine thymic stromal organization and with it the induction of self-tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Zuklys
- Pediatric Immunology, The Children's University Hospital, Basel University, Basel, Switzerland
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Aapola U, Kawasaki K, Scott HS, Ollila J, Vihinen M, Heino M, Shintani A, Kawasaki K, Minoshima S, Krohn K, Antonarakis SE, Shimizu N, Kudoh J, Peterson P. Isolation and initial characterization of a novel zinc finger gene, DNMT3L, on 21q22.3, related to the cytosine-5-methyltransferase 3 gene family. Genomics 2000; 65:293-8. [PMID: 10857753 DOI: 10.1006/geno.2000.6168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 186] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
We have isolated the DNMT3L gene that is related to the cytosine-5-methyltransferase 3 (DNMT3) family. The gene is located on chromosome 21q22.3 between the AIRE and the KIAA0653 genes and spans approximately 16 kb of genomic sequence. The encoded protein of 387 amino acids has a cysteine-rich region containing a novel-type zinc finger domain that is conserved in DNMT3A and DNMT3B but also in ATRX, a member of the SNF2 protein family. The novel domain, called an ADD (ATRX, DNMT3, DNMT3L)-type zinc finger, contains two subparts: a C2C2 and an imperfect PHD zinc finger. Expression of the DNMT3L mRNA was not detectable by Northern blotting; however, RT-PCR amplification revealed that it is expressed at low levels in several tissues including testis, ovary, and thymus.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Aapola
- Institute of Medical Technology, University of Tampere, Finland.
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