Autoimmune regulator

In the thymus, the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) induces the transcription of a broad array of organ-specific genes, resulting in the production of proteins that are normally restricted to peripheral tissues. This ectopic expression creates an "immunological self-shadow" that exposes developing T cells to peripheral antigens, thereby facilitating the negative selection of self-reactive T cells and promoting central tolerance. This discovery was achieved through the combined efforts of researchers in Diane Mathis' lab— including Mark Anderson (immunologist)—and those in the Christopher Goodnow lab, where Adrian Liston led this work.

Studies have shown that AIRE is also expressed in a subset of stromal cells in secondary lymphoid tissues, though these cells express a distinct set of tissue‐restricted antigens compared to medullary thymic epithelial cells.^[10][11] It is important that self-reactive T cells that bind strongly to self-antigen are eliminated in the thymus (via the process of negative selection), otherwise they may later encounter and bind to their corresponding self-antigens and initiate an autoimmune reaction. So the expression of non-local proteins by AIRE in the thymus reduces the threat of autoimmunity by promoting the elimination of auto-reactive T cells that bind antigens not normally found in the thymus. Furthermore, it has been found that AIRE is expressed in a population of stromal cells located in secondary lymphoid tissues, however these cells appear to express a distinct set of TRAs compared to mTECs.^[12]

Research in knockout mice has demonstrated that AIRE functions through initiating the transcription of a diverse set of self-antigens, such as insulin, in the thymus.^[10] This expression then allows maturing thymocytes to become tolerant towards peripheral organs, thereby suppressing autoimmune disease.^[11]

The AIRE gene is expressed in many other tissues as well.^[13] The AIRE gene is also expressed in the 33D1+ subset of dendritic cells in mouse and in human dendritic cells.^[14]

AIRE is composed of a multidomain structure that is able to bind to chromatin and act as a regulator of gene transcription. The specific makeup of AIRE includes a caspase activation and recruitment domain (CARD), nuclear localization signal (NLS), SAND domain, and two plant-homeodomain (PHD) fingers.^[15] The SAND domain is located in the middle of the amino-acid chain (aa 180-280) and mediates the binding of AIRE to phosphate groups of DNA.^[16] Another potential role for this domain is to anchor AIRE to heterologous proteins.^[17] The two cysteine-rich PHD finger domains at the C-terminus of AIRE are PHD1 (aa 299-340) and PHD2 (aa 434-475) which are separated by a proline-rich region of amino acids.^[18] These finger domains serve to read chromatin marks through the degree of methylation at the tail of histone H3. More specifically, PHD1 is able to recognize unmethylation at the H3 tail as an epigenetic mark.^[19]

An integral characteristic of AIRE is its ability to homomerize into dimers and trimers which allows it to bind to specific oligonucleotide motifs.^[20] This property comes from the homogeneously staining region (HSR) located at the N-terminus. Because of the α-helical four-helix bundle structure, HSR’s are sensitive to conformational changes of the gene.^[21] Variants and deletions involving this domain cause an inability to activate gene transcription by preventing oligomer formation and can result in APS-1.

Instead of binding to consensus sequences of target gene promoters, like conventional transcription factors, AIRE engages in coordinated sequences that are performed by its multimolecular complexes. The first AIRE partner that was identified is the CREB-binding protein (CBP) that is localized in nuclear bodies and is a co-activator of many transcription factors.^[21] Other AIRE partners include positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) and DNA activated protein kinase (DNA-PK).^[22][23] DNA-PK phosphorylates AIRE in vitro at Thr68 and Ser156.^[23] Another partner is DNA-topoisomerase (DNA-TOP) IIα. This isomerase enzyme works on DNA topology and removes positive and negative DNA supercoils by causing transient DNA breaks. In turn, this causes relaxation of local chromatin and helps the initiation and post-initiation events of gene transcription.^[24] By performing double-stranded DNA breaks, DNA-TOPIIα recruits DNA-PK and poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP1) which are involved in DNA break and repair through non-homologous end joining.^[25]

The AIRE gene is mutated in the rare autoimmune syndrome autoimmune polyendocrinopathy syndrome type 1 (APS-1), also known as autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED). Different mutations are more common among certain populations in the world.^[26] The most common exonic mutations of AIRE occur on exons 1, 2, 6, 8, and 10. Exons 1 and 2 encode the HSR, exon 6 encodes the SAND domain, exon 8 is in the PHD-1 domain, and exon 10 is located in the proline-rich region between the two PHD finger domains.^[27] Known mutations in AIRE include Arg139X, Arg257X, and Leu323SerfsX51.^[28]

Disruption of AIRE results in the development of a range of autoimmune diseases, the most common clinical conditions in the syndrome are hypoparathyroidism, primary adrenocortical failure and chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis.^[29]

A gene knockout of the murine homolog of Aire has created a transgenic mouse model that is used to study the mechanism of disease in human patients.^[30]

Autoimmune regulator has been shown to interact with CREB binding protein.^[21][31]

• List of human clusters of differentiation for a list of CD molecules
• Immune system
• Immune tolerance