Expanding the Role of Thymic Mimetic Cells: Going Beyond Self-Tolerance
Thymic mimetic cells, a type of thymic epithelial cell, have been found to play a role beyond self-tolerance in the immune system. These cells, which resemble intestinal M cells, express genes associated with autoimmune regulator (Aire) and produce IL-36γ, a cytokine involved in inflammation. The study suggests that thymic mimetic cells may contribute to the development of autoimmune disorders and provides new insights into the complexity of thymic epithelial cell function.