Transcriptional regulation in thymic epithelial cells for the establishment of self tolerance

Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) play pivotal roles in the establishment of self tolerance through critical dialogue with developing thymocytes. Unique actions of two transcriptional regulators within TECs, NF-kappa B-inducing kinase (NIK) and an autoimmune regulator (AIRE), for the establishment of self tolerance have recently been highlighted by studies using a strain of mouse bearing a natural mutation of the NIK gene (aly mice) and gene-targeted mice, respectively. Previous studies have demonstrated essential roles of NIK downstream of the lymphotoxin-beta receptor (LT beta R), which is essential for the development of secondary lymphoid organs; aly mice lack all lymph nodes and Peyer's patches because of the defective LT beta R signaling. Additional roles of NIK in thymic organogenesis downstream of LT beta R, mainly through the developmental regulation of TECs, have now emerged, although the corresponding ligand(s) for LT beta R participating in this action have not been fully characterized. In contrast, AIRE, a gene responsible for the development of an organ-specific autoimmune disease that demonstrates monogenic autosomal recessive inheritance, contributes to the establishment of self tolerance probably by controlling the expression of self antigens through yet undetermined molecular mechanisms. Thus, it is highly likely that a group of genes control self tolerance within TECs through unique and coordinated actions, and that an understanding of this process would help to unravel the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease.