Anti-Autoimmune Regulator antibody

Target information

Transcription factor playing an essential role to promote self-tolerance in the thymus by regulating the expression of a wide array of self-antigens that have the commonality of being tissue-restricted in their expression pattern in the periphery, called tissue restricted antigens (TRA) (Probable). Binds to G-doublets in an A/T-rich environment; the preferred motif is a tandem repeat of 5′-. ATTGGTTA-3′ combined with a 5′-TTATTA-3′ box. Binds to nucleosomes (By similarity). Binds to chromatin and interacts selectively with histone H3 that is not methylated at ‘Lys-4’, not phosphorylated at ‘Thr-3’ and not methylated at ‘Arg-2’. Functions as a sensor of histone H3 modifications that are important for the epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Mainly expressed by medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs), induces the expression of thousands of tissue-restricted proteins, which are presented on major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) and MHC-II molecules to developing T-cells percolating through the thymic medulla (By similarity). Also induces self-tolerance through other mechanisms such as the regulation of the mTEC differentiation program (PubMed:19015306). Controls the medullary accumulation of thymic dendritic cells and the development of regulatory T-cell through the regulation of XCL1 expression (PubMed:21300913). Regulates the production of CCR4 and CCR7 ligands in medullary thymic epithelial cells and alters the coordinated maturation and migration of thymocytes (PubMed:19923453). In thimic B-cells, allows the presentation of licensing-dependent endogenous self-anitgen for negative selection (PubMed:26070482). In secondary lymphoid organs, induces functional inactivation of CD4⁺ T-cells. Expressed by a distinct bone marrow-derived population, induces self-tolerance through a mechanism that does not require regulatory T-cells and is resitant to innate inflammatory stimuli (PubMed:23993652).