T-cell receptor excision circles
Appearance
T-cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) are small circles of DNA created in T-cells during their passage through the thymus as they rearrange their TCR genes.[1] Their presence indicates maturation of T cells; TRECs are reduced in SCID (Severe combined immunodeficiency disease).
Signal joint T-cell receptor excision circles (sjTRECs) were in the news as a way to test the age of the individual from a blood sample.[2] The detection of sjTRECs can be further used as a diagnostic tool to monitor the thymic output (e.g., following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation or in cases of AIDS).[3]
See also
References
- ^ http://allergycases.org/2010/05/t-cell-receptor-excision-circles-trecs.html[full citation needed]
- ^ telegraph.co.uk[full citation needed]
- ^ Al-Harthi L, Marchetti G, Steffens CM, Poulin J, Sékaly R, Landay A (2000). "Detection of T cell receptor circles (TRECs) as biomarkers for de novo T cell synthesis using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (PCR-ELISA)". Journal of Immunological Methods. 237 (1–2): 187–97. doi:10.1016/S0022-1759(00)00136-8. PMID 10725462.