RNA sequencing of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) from HLA-DR15+ human thymus

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a T cell-mediated demyelinating autoimmune disease of the central nervous system causing neurological deficits with substantial disability. It is known that the selection of T cells in thymus is important for the tolerance of T cells to self-antigen, and antigen-presenting cells (APCs), by presenting self-antigen peptide with MHC molecules, play a critical role in the process of selection. Moreover, the MHC (HLA in humans) region, and particularly the DR15 haplotype, are well known as the major genetic-susceptibility determinants in MS. Therefore, studying of APCs, especially DR15 positive samples, from human thymus would expand our understanding of the roles of thymic APCs and DR15 in the pathogenesis of MS.