T-cell receptor excision circles and repertoire diversity in children with profound T-cell immunodeficiency

Background/Purpose(s)Approximately 40% of patients with profound T-cell immunodeficiency have no identified molecular basis. Early assessment of T-cell impairment is vital for medical intervention, if hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is needed. The dynamics of T-cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) revealing recent thymic output of naïve T cell and T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire diversity reflecting broader responses to multiple antigens, are both important in resisting infections.MethodsThe TRECs value and TCR repertoire diversity were evaluated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with primary severe T cell immunodeficiency, to elucidate the T-cell response.ResultsIn seven children with