Advanced search
Start date
Betweenand
Related content
(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

T cell receptor excision circles as a tool for evaluating thymic function in young children

Full text
Author(s):
Levy, A. [1] ; Rangel-Santos, A. [1] ; Torres, L. C. [2] ; Silveira-Abreu, G. [1] ; Agena, F. [3] ; Carneiro-Sampaio, M. [1]
Total Authors: 6
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Hosp Clin, Inst Crianca, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil
[2] Inst Med Integral Prof Fernando Figueira IMIP, Lab Pesquisa Translac, Recife, PE - Brazil
[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Hosp Clin, Inst Cent, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 3
Document type: Journal article
Source: Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research; v. 52, n. 7 2019.
Web of Science Citations: 0
Abstract

The thymus is a primary lymphoid organ responsible for the maturation of T cells as well as the immunological central tolerance. It is in the antenatal period and infancy that it plays its major role. In clinical practice, T cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) are considered a direct and reliable measure of the thymic function. TRECs are a by-product of DNA formation in gene rearrangement of T cell receptors. They are stable and they do not duplicate during mitosis, representing the recent emigrant T cells from the thymus. Despite their importance, TRECs have been neglected by physicians and there is a lack of data regarding thymic function during infancy of healthy children. In order to evaluate thymic function in the first years of life, we propose measuring TRECs as a valuable tool. One hundred and three blood samples from children and adolescents between 3 months and 20 years of age were analyzed. The mean TRECs count was 136.77±96.7 copies of TRECs/μL of DNA. The individuals between 0 and 5 years of age had significantly higher TRECs values than those between 10 and 20 years of age. No significant difference was observed in TRECs values among age groups below 5 years of age. An inverse correlation between TRECs and age was found (r=0.3 P=0.003). These data highlight and validate the evidence of decreased thymus function with age, even during infancy. Awareness should be raised with this important albeit ignored organ. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 14/50489-9 - Human thymus: development and diseases
Grantee:Magda Maria Sales Carneiro-Sampaio
Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants