| description: |
The objective of the work is to characterize AIRE (autoimmune regulator) gene expression. AIRE gene is mutated in a genetic autoimmune disease, APECED, in which patients develop several autoimmune diseases due to the deficient self-immune tolerance. AIRE is a transcriptional regulator having central role in thymic expression of peripheral self-antigens, and thus in central immune tolerance. The aim of the project is to study AIRE expression in dendritic cells and other immune cells using quantitative PCR and immunological methods for protein detection. The results may give information about AIRE role in peripheral immune tolerance. |