In contrast to this finding, acinar cells showed little proliferation and extensive apoptosis at both ages (5 wk: 0.25% ± 0.14 vs. 4.50% ± 0.52, p < 0.001; 7 wk: 0.50% ± 0.20 vs. 4.41% ± 1.23, p = 0.03, Figure 3D), confirming our previous findings at 8 wk that the acini but not the ducts are adversely impacted by chronic inflammation in the Aire-/- mouse model. The gene discussed is AIRE; the disease is inflammatory response.