CD4 +CD25 + T-regulatory cells are decreased in patients with autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy

The possibility that AIRE may play a role in the positive selection of Treg cells is also suggested by data showing that self-antigen displayed on thymic epithelial cells induces increased production of Treg cells.10 A further indication that AIRE may play a role in the generation of Treg cells comes from certain striking similarities observed in organ-specific autoimmune manifestations developed in humans and mice with APECED and immune deficiency, polyendocrinopathy X-linked syndromes (IPEX), lacking the AIRE/aire or FOXP3/foxp3 gene, respectively.6 Taken together, our data demonstrate that in patients with APECED lacking a functional AIRE gene, cells expressing markers characteristic of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells in peripheral blood are present but markedly decreased.