Loss of AIRE-Mediated Immune Tolerance and the Skin

The core function of the immune response is to  distinguish between self and foreign. The multiorgan human autoimmune disease, autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED/autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1) is an example of what happens in the body when central immune tolerance goes astray. APECED revealed the e xistence and function of the autoimmune regulator gene, which has a central role in the development of tolerance. The discovery of autoimmune regulator was the start of a new period in immunology and in understanding the role of central and peripheral tolerance, also very relevant to many skin disea ses as we highlight in this review.
Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology - Category: Dermatology Authors: Tags: Review Source Type: research