Published online 27 June 2005 doi:10.1084/jem.20050976
Rockefeller University Press, 0022-1007 $8.00
JEM, Volume 202, Number 1, 15-19
Contrasting models of promiscuous gene expression by thymic epithelium
Geoffrey O. Gillarda,b and
Andrew G. Farra,b
a G.O.G. is at the Department of Immunology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195.
b A.G.F. is at the Department of Immunology and Department of Biostructure, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195.
CORRESPONDENCE A.G.F.: farr{at}u.washington.edu
Abstract
Medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) express a broad spectrum of tissue- restricted self-antigens (TRAs), which are required for the development of central tolerance. A new study suggests that TRA expression is a specialized property of terminally differentiated mTECs. However, as discussed here, an alternative modelwhereby TRA expression is regulated by conserved developmental programs active in developing mTECsmay be equally plausible.

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