Next Article in Journal
Super-Enhancers Dysregulations in Hematological Malignancies
Next Article in Special Issue
Sapienic Acid Metabolism Influences Membrane Plasticity and Protein Signaling in Breast Cancer Cell Lines
Previous Article in Journal
The Contribution of Non-Neuronal Cells in Neurodegeneration: From Molecular Pathogenesis to Therapeutic Challenges
Previous Article in Special Issue
The Impact of Exercise on Telomere Length, DNA Methylation and Metabolic Footprints
 
 
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Review

Phylogeny, Structure, Functions, and Role of AIRE in the Formation of T-Cell Subsets

Research Institute for Fundamental and Clinical Immunology (RIFCI), 630099 Novosibirsk, Russia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Cells 2022, 11(2), 194; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11020194
Submission received: 12 December 2021 / Revised: 3 January 2022 / Accepted: 4 January 2022 / Published: 7 January 2022
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolic Inflammation and Cellular Immunity)

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.
Keywords: AIRE; promiscuous gene expression; tissue-specific antigens; thymic epithelial cells; variable lymphocyte receptors; T-cell receptors; B-cell receptors; evolution of adaptive immunity AIRE; promiscuous gene expression; tissue-specific antigens; thymic epithelial cells; variable lymphocyte receptors; T-cell receptors; B-cell receptors; evolution of adaptive immunity

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

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. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11020194

AMA Style

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(2):194. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11020194

Chicago/Turabian Style

Shevyrev, Daniil, Valeriy Tereshchenko, Vladimir Kozlov, and Sergey Sennikov. 2022. "Phylogeny, Structure, Functions, and Role of AIRE in the Formation of T-Cell Subsets" Cells 11, no. 2: 194. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11020194

APA Style

Shevyrev, D., Tereshchenko, V., Kozlov, V., & Sennikov, S. (2022). Phylogeny, Structure, Functions, and Role of AIRE in the Formation of T-Cell Subsets. Cells, 11(2), 194. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11020194

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop