This volume focuses on challenging field in biomedicine that is the genetic control of central
immune tolerance. It covers the thymus development their cellular components and their
respective function the peculiar gene expression profiling (transcriptome) found in the
medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) that are implicated in the self-representation in the
thymus the Autoimmune regulator (Aire) gene the mutations in this gene and manifestation of
autoimmune diseases and the role of cell-cell interactions within the thymus with implications
in the negative selection (elimination) of nascent autoreactive T cells in preventing
aggressive autoimmunity. The thymus gland is a lymphoid organ implicated in the maturation
differentiation and selection of T cells. This organ is gained more and more attention in
different biomedical research labs worldwide due to its function that is associated with the
control of immune homeostasis in the body establishing the central immune tolerance and
preventing the onset of autoimmune diseases.
