T-cell receptor excision circles

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) might be used 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]

  1. ^ http://allergycases.org/2010/05/t-cell-receptor-excision-circles-trecs.html[full citation needed]
  2. ^ Zhang, S. L.; Bhandoola, A. (2012). "Losing TREC with age". Immunity. 36 (2): 163–165. doi:10.1016/j.immuni.2012.02.005. PMC 4026262. PMID 22365662.
  3. ^ 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.