作者: Bruno Kyewski , Ludger Klein
DOI: 10.1146/ANNUREV.IMMUNOL.23.021704.115601
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摘要: AbstractRecent elucidation of the role central tolerance in preventing organ-specific autoimmunity has changed our concepts self/nonself discrimination. This paradigmatic shift is largely attributable to discovery promiscuous expression tissue-restricted self-antigens (TRAs) by medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs). TRA mTECs mirrors virtually all tissues body, irrespective developmental or spatio-temporal patterns. review summarizes current knowledge on cellular and molecular regulation mTECs, outlines relevant mechanisms antigen presentation modes induction, discusses implications for pathogenesis autoimmune diseases other biological processes such as fertility, pregnancy, puberty, tumor defense.