Quantification of T-Cell Receptor Excision Circles (TRECs).
Abstract
Aging is a natural process that compromises the immune system's functionality increasing the risk of infectious, tumors, and autoimmune diseases. The thymus involution is an age-dependent process characterized by decreased cellularity, peripheral lymphocyte infiltration into the perivascular space, and expansion of adipose tissue. All those modifications hamper the functionality of the organ and lead to a decline of naïve T-cell production with a shrinking of the T-cell repertoire. Thymus atrophy is described in several disorders including autoimmune diseases. The quantification of T-cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) in recent thymus emigrants is a standard procedure to investigate the thymic function. In this chapter, we discuss the methodology used to quantify this molecule in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and isolated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.
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Research summary
The paper discusses the quantification of T-cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) in the context of thymic function and aging, which is relevant to understanding the decline of the immune system with age. However, it primarily focuses on methodology rather than addressing root causes of aging or proposing solutions for lifespan extension. Its contribution is solid but limited in terms of broader implications for longevity research.
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