The autoimmune regulator (AIRE) and the early wave of apoptosis in spermatogenesis [Elektronische Ressource] / Claudia Eva Maria Schaller

Claudia Eva Maria SchallerThe Autoimmune Regulator (AIRE) and the Early Wave of Apoptosis in SpermatogenesisDissertation der Fakultät für Biologie der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology University of California San Francisco1. Gutachter: Prof. Elisabeth Weiß2. Gutachter: Prof. Harry MacWilliamsSondervotum: Prof. Matthias Wabl, University of California San FranciscoTag der mündlichen Prüfung: 5. July 2010TABLE OF CONTENTSCHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1Overview 11. AIRE and the immune system 11.1 Immunological background 11.1.1 Overview of the adaptive immune response 11.1.2 Establishment of self-tolerance 31.1.2.1 Central tolerance: negative and positive selection in the thymus 41.1.2.2 Peripheral tolerance 61.1.3 Autoimmune diseases 71.2 AIRE (Autoimmune Regulator) 81.2.1 APECED (autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis- 8ectodermal dystrophy)1.2.1.1 Genetics 81.2.1.2 Clinical features and autoantibodies 91.2.2 Gene 101.2.3 Protein and domains 111.2.4 Tissue distribution 121.2.5 Aire-deficient mouse models 131.2.6 Physiological role 152. Male germ cells and apoptosis 17Overview 172.1 Male germ cells 172.1.1 The testis 172.1.1.1 Morphology 172.1.1.2 Blood-testis barrier 182.1.2 Spermatogenesis 192.1.2.1 Spermatogenic cycle and wave 202.1.2.2 Proliferative phase: spermatogonial stem cells and spermatogonia 222.1.2.3 Meiotic phase: spermatocytes 232.1.2.4 Haploid phase: spermatozoa 252.1.