Thymic medullary epithelial cell turnover and control of immune tolerance

The project aims to investigate novel populations of medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs), termed post-Aire-expressing (post-Aire) cells, which include keratinocyte-like cells and tuft-like cells. These cells show distinct gene expression patterns and intermediate levels of self-antigen expression, suggesting a unique role in T cell tolerance. The research will define markers of cell identity and key developmental pathways in thymic tuft cells, examine the effect of post-Aire mTECs on T cell selection and thymocyte development, and assess their in vivo contributions to immune tolerance. The ultimate goal is to understand how these cells promote immune tolerance and could be employed in preventing autoimmune diseases.