Expression of AIRE gene in peripheral monocyte/dendritic cell lineage

The responsible gene for autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1, known as autoimmune regulator (AIRE), was identified by positional cloning. The AIRE gene was reported to be expressed in the thymus medulla and lymph nodes. However, an expression of the AIRE gene in peripheral blood cells has not yet been reported. In the present study, we found that the AIRE gene was restrictively expressed in peripheral CD14-positive monocytes but not in CD4-positive T cells nor polymorphonuclear cells, as assessed by RT-PCR. Moreover, immunocytochemical study revealed the expression of the AIRE protein not only in CD14-positive monocytes but also in differentiated dendritic cells, cultured in RPMI1640 medium containing 800 U/ml GM-CSF, 1000 U/ml IL-4 and 100 U/ml TNF-alpha. Thus, it was concluded that the AIRE gene is restrictively expressed in the peripheral monocyte/dendritic cell lineage.