[Clinical evaluation of thymic function].
The essential role of the thymus is to install an extremely diverse repertoire of T lymphocytes that are self-tolerant and competent against non-self, as well as to generate self-antigen specific regulatory T cells (Treg) able to inactivate in periphery self-reactive T cells having escaped the thymic censorship. Although indirect, techniques of medical imaging and phenotyping of peripheral T cells may help in the investigation of thymic function. Nowadays however, thymopoiesis is better evaluated through quantification by PCR of T-cell receptor excision circles (TREC) generated by intrathymic random recombination of the gene segments coding for the variable parts of the T-cell receptor for antigen (TCR). The TREC methodology is very valuable in the circumstances not associated with intense proliferation or apoptosis of peripheral T lymphocytes.
Castermans
E
E
CHU Sart Tilman, Liège, Belgique.
Morrhaye
G
G
Marchand
S
S
Martens
H
H
Moutschen
M
M
Baron
F
F
Beguin
Y
Y
Geenen
V
V
D004270:DNA, Circular; D015329:Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*
D004270:DNA, Circular; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell