Among the down regulated genes in the AIR patients, several are involved in suppression of lymphocyte activation and survival and are known to control autoimmunity including: protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor 22 (PTPN22), autophagy related 5 (ATG5), caspase 3, and retinoic acid receptor responder 3 (RARRES3; Figure 5B). This evidence concerns the gene PTPN22 and Autoimmunity.