Quantification of total T-cell receptor diversity by flow cytometry and spectratyping.

BACKGROUND: T-cell receptor diversity correlates with immune competency and is of particular interest in patients undergoing immune reconstitution. Spectratyping generates data about T-cell receptor CDR3 length distribution for each BV gene but is technically complex. Flow cytometry can also be used to generate data about T-cell receptor BV gene usage, but its utility has not been compared to or tested in combination with spectratyping. RESULTS: Using flow cytometry and spectratype data, we have defined a divergence metric that quantifies the deviation from normal of T-cell receptor repertoire. We have shown that the sample size is a sensitive parameter in the predicted flow divergence values, but not in the spectratype divergence values. We have derived two ways to correct for the measurement bias using mathematical and statistical approaches and have predicted a lower bound in the number of lymphocytes needed when using the divergence as a substitute for diversity. CONCLUSIONS: Using both flow cytometry and spectratyping of T-cells, we have defined the divergence measure as an indirect measure of T-cell receptor diversity. We have shown the dependence of the divergence measure on the sample size before it can be used to make predictions regarding the diversity of the T-cell receptor repertoire.

First use of thymus transplantation therapy for FOXN1 deficiency (nude/SCID): a report of 2 cases.

FOXN1 deficiency is a primary immunodeficiency characterized by athymia, alopecia totalis, and nail dystrophy. Two infants with FOXN1 deficiency were transplanted with cultured postnatal thymus tissue. Subject 1 presented with disseminated Bacillus Calmette-Guérin infection and oligoclonal T cells with no naive markers. Subject 2 had respiratory failure, human herpes virus 6 infection, cytopenias, and no circulating T cells. The subjects were given thymus transplants at 14 and 9 months of life, respectively. Subject 1 received immunosuppression before and for 10 months after transplantation. With follow up of 4.9 and 2.9 years, subjects 1 and 2 are well without infectious complications. The pretransplantation mycobacterial disease in subject 1 and cytopenias in subject 2 resolved. Subject 2 developed autoimmune thyroid disease 1.6 years after transplantation. Both subjects developed functional immunity. Subjects 1 and 2 have 1053/mm(3) and 1232/mm(3) CD3(+) cells, 647/mm(3) and 868/mm(3) CD4(+) T cells, 213/mm(3) and 425/mm(3) naive CD4(+) T cells, and 10 200 and 5700 T-cell receptor rearrangement excision circles per 100 000 CD3(+) cells, respectively. They have normal CD4 T-cell receptor ß variable repertoires. Both subjects developed antigen-specific proliferative responses and have discontinued immunoglobulin replacement. In summary, thymus transplantation led to T-cell reconstitution and function in these FOXN1 deficient infants.

Diagnosis of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and artemis deficiency in two children with T-B-NK+ immunodeficiency.

Two infants are described who presented with 22q11.2 deletion and a T(-)B(-)NK(+) immune phenotype. For both infants, the initial diagnosis was athymia secondary to complete DiGeorge anomaly. The first infant underwent thymus transplantation but 6 months after transplantation had circulating thymus donor T cells; the patient did not develop recipient naïve T cells. Genetic analyses revealed that both patients had Artemis deficiency, a rare form of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). Both infants have subsequently undergone bone marrow transplantation. These cases illustrate the importance and paradox of differentiating SCID from complete DiGeorge anomaly because hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the preferred treatment for SCID but is ineffective for complete DiGeorge anomaly. However, if the thymus is completely absent, donor stem cells from a HSCT would not be able to be educated.

Thymic microenvironment reconstitution after postnatal human thymus transplantation.

A functional thymus develops after cultured thymus tissue is transplanted into subjects with complete DiGeorge anomaly. To gain insight into how the process occurs, 7 post-transplantation thymus biopsy tissues were evaluated. In 5 of 7 biopsies, the thymus appeared to be predominantly cortex with thymocytes expressing cortical markers. Unexpectedly, the epithelium expressed both cortical [cortical dendritic reticulum antigen 2 (CDR2)] and medullary [cytokeratin (CK) 14] markers. Early medullary development was suggested by epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) reactivity in small areas of biopsies. Two other biopsies had distinct mature cortex and medulla with normal restriction of CK14 to the medulla and subcapsular cortex, and of CDR2 to cortex. These data are consistent with a model in which thymic epithelium contains CK14+ "progenitor epithelial cells". After transplantation these cells proliferate as CK14+CDR2+ thymic epithelial cells that are associated with cortical thymocytes. Later these cells differentiate into distinct cortical and medullary epithelia.

Mechanisms of tolerance to parental parathyroid tissue when combined with human allogeneic thymus transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The induction of tolerance toward third-party solid organ grafts with allogeneic thymus tissue transplantation has not been previously demonstrated in human subjects. OBJECTIVE: Infants with complete DiGeorge anomaly (having neither thymus nor parathyroid function) were studied for conditions and mechanisms required for the development of tolerance to third-party solid organ tissues. METHODS: Four infants who met the criteria received parental parathyroid with allogeneic thymus transplantation and were studied. RESULTS: Two of 3 survivors showed function of both grafts but subsequently lost parathyroid function. They demonstrated alloreactivity against the parathyroid donor in mixed lymphocyte cultures. For these 2 recipients, parathyroid donor HLA class II alleles were mismatched with the recipient and thymus. MHC class II tetramers confirmed the presence of recipient CD4(+) T cells with specificity toward a mismatched parathyroid donor class II allele. The third survivor has persistent graft function and lacks alloreactivity toward the parathyroid donor. All parathyroid donor class II alleles were shared with either the recipient or the thymus graft, with minor differences between the parathyroid (HLA-DRB1∗1104) and thymus (HLA-DRB1∗1101). Tetramer analyses detected recipient T cells specific for the parathyroid HLA-DRB1∗1104 allele. Alloreactivity toward the parathyroid donor was restored with low doses of IL-2. CONCLUSION: Tolerance toward parathyroid grafts in combined parental parathyroid and allogeneic thymus transplantation requires matching of thymus tissue to parathyroid HLA class II alleles to promote negative selection and suppression of recipient T cells that have alloreactivity toward the parathyroid grafts. This matching strategy may be applied toward tolerance induction in future combined thymus and solid organ transplantation efforts.

Thymus transplantation.

Thymus transplantation is a promising investigational therapy for infants born with no thymus. Because of the athymia, these infants lack T cell development and have a severe primary immunodeficiency. Although thymic hypoplasia or aplasia is characteristic of DiGeorge anomaly, in "complete" DiGeorge anomaly, there is no detectable thymus as determined by the absence of naive (CD45RA(+), CD62L(+)) T cells. Transplantation of postnatal allogeneic cultured thymus tissue was performed in sixty subjects with complete DiGeorge anomaly who were under the age of 2 years. Recipient survival was over 70%. Naive T cells developed 3-5 months after transplantation. The graft recipients were able to discontinue antibiotic prophylaxis, and immunoglobulin replacement. Immunosuppression was used in a subset of subjects but was discontinued when naive T cells developed. The adverse events have been acceptable with thyroid disease being the most common. Research continues on mechanisms underlying immune reconstitution after thymus transplantation.

The dynamics of T-cell receptor repertoire diversity following thymus transplantation for DiGeorge anomaly.

T cell populations are regulated both by signals specific to the T-cell receptor (TCR) and by signals and resources, such as cytokines and space, that act independently of TCR specificity. Although it has been demonstrated that disruption of either of these pathways has a profound effect on T-cell development, we do not yet have an understanding of the dynamical interactions of these pathways in their joint shaping of the T cell repertoire. Complete DiGeorge Anomaly is a developmental abnormality that results in the failure of the thymus to develop, absence of T cells, and profound immune deficiency. After receiving thymic tissue grafts, patients suffering from DiGeorge anomaly develop T cells derived from their own precursors but matured in the donor tissue. We followed three DiGeorge patients after thymus transplantation to utilize the remarkable opportunity these subjects provide to elucidate human T-cell developmental regulation. Our goal is the determination of the respective roles of TCR-specific vs. TCR-nonspecific regulatory signals in the growth of these emerging T-cell populations. During the course of the study, we measured peripheral blood T-cell concentrations, TCRbeta V gene-segment usage and CDR3-length spectratypes over two years or more for each of the subjects. We find, through statistical analysis based on a novel stochastic population-dynamic T-cell model, that the carrying capacity corresponding to TCR-specific resources is approximately 1000-fold larger than that of TCR-nonspecific resources, implying that the size of the peripheral T-cell pool at steady state is determined almost entirely by TCR-nonspecific mechanisms. Nevertheless, the diversity of the TCR repertoire depends crucially on TCR-specific regulation. The estimated strength of this TCR-specific regulation is sufficient to ensure rapid establishment of TCR repertoire diversity in the early phase of T cell population growth, and to maintain TCR repertoire diversity in the face of substantial clonal expansion-induced perturbation from the steady state.

Thymus transplantation in complete DiGeorge anomaly.

Complete DiGeorge anomaly is characterized by athymia, congenital heart disease, and hypoparathyroidism. This congenital disease is fatal by age 2 years unless immune reconstitution is successful. There are multiple underlying syndromes associated with complete DiGeorge anomaly including 22q11 hemizygosity in approximately 50%, CHARGE association in approximately 25%, and diabetic embryopathy in approximately 15%. Approximately one-third of patients present with rash and lymphadenopathy associated with oligoclonal "host" T cells. This condition resembles Omenn syndrome. Immunosuppression is necessary to control the oligoclonal T cells. The results of thymus transplantation are reported for a series of 50 patients, of whom 36 survive. The survivors develop naïve T cells and a diverse T cell repertoire.

Characterization of cultured thymus tissue used for transplantation with emphasis on promiscuous expression of thyroid tissue-specific genes.

Autoimmune thyroid disease occurs in some complete DiGeorge anomaly patients after thymus transplantation. This study was designed to assess the effect of culture of thymus tissue on the expression of genes involved in the development of autoimmunity. The expression of autoimmune regulator (AIRE), thyroglobulin (TG), thyroid peroxidase (TPO), and cytokeratin RNAs was examined in thymocytes and thymus tissue on the day of thymus harvest and after 14 and 21 days of culture. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the cytokeratin expression in the thymus tissue. AIRE, TG, TPO, and cytokeratin mRNAs were found in harvest-day, 14-day and 21-day cultured tissues. Levels of AIRE, TG, and cytokeratin mRNAs were mostly higher after culture compared to expression on the harvest day, likely secondary to thymocyte depletion.

Human FOXN1-deficiency is associated with αß double-negative and FoxP3+ T-cell expansions that are distinctly modulated upon thymic transplantation.

Forkhead box N1 (FOXN1) is a transcription factor crucial for thymic epithelium development and prevention of its involution. Investigation of a patient with a rare homozygous FOXN1 mutation (R255X), leading to alopecia universalis and thymus aplasia, unexpectedly revealed non-maternal circulating T-cells, and, strikingly, large numbers of aberrant double-negative αß T-cells (CD4negCD8neg, DN) and regulatory-like T-cells. These data raise the possibility that a thymic rudiment persisted, allowing T-cell development, albeit with disturbances in positive/negative selection, as suggested by DN and FoxP3+ cell expansions. Although regulatory-like T-cell numbers normalized following HLA-mismatched thymic transplantation, the αßDN subset persisted 5 years post-transplantation. Involution of thymus allograft likely occurred 3 years post-transplantation based on sj/ßTREC ratio, which estimates intrathymic precursor T-cell divisions and, consequently, thymic explant output. Nevertheless, functional immune-competence was sustained, providing new insights for the design of immunological reconstitution strategies based on thymic transplantation, with potential applications in other clinical settings.

Long-term tolerance to allogeneic thymus transplants in complete DiGeorge anomaly.

Thymus transplantation in subjects with complete DiGeorge anomaly using postnatal allogeneic HLA-nonmatched cultured thymus tissue provides immunoreconstitution. Tolerance of the newly developed T cells toward the donor thymus has not previously been studied. Mixed lymphocyte cultures were used to test 12 thymus transplant recipients for long-term tolerance toward their thymus allografts. Two subjects tested for responses toward thymus donor peripheral blood mononuclear cells showed significantly less reactivity toward the donors compared to responses against third-party allogeneic cells. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 10 other subjects were less responsive toward cryopreserved donor thymic cells than toward allogeneic cells (P=0.00007). Adult control peripheral blood mononuclear cells proliferated strongly in response to the donor thymic cells. Both the subjects and controls showed similar proliferative responses against allogeneic cells and phytohemagglutinin. This study provides in vitro evidence for long-term tolerance of complete DiGeorge anomaly thymus transplantation recipients toward their HLA-nonmatched thymus grafts.

Use of allograft biopsies to assess thymopoiesis after thymus transplantation.

Thymus allograft biopsies were performed in athymic infants with complete DiGeorge anomaly after thymus transplantation to assess whether the thymus allograft tissue was able to support thymopoiesis. Forty-four consecutive infants were treated with postnatal cultured thymus allografts. Thirty biopsies and six autopsies evaluating the allograft site were obtained in 33 infants, 23 of whom survive. The allograft was examined by immunohistochemistry for evidence of thymopoiesis. Grafted thymus tissue was found in 25 of 30 biopsies, 23 of which showed thymopoiesis. All 19 survivors with thymopoiesis on biopsy developed naive T cells and T cell function. Autopsies were done in six subjects, three of whom had biopsies. All autopsy samples contained thymus tissue including one for which the biopsy had not contained graft. Of the six autopsies, one had evidence of thymopoiesis. Epithelium without thymopoiesis was seen in two of 25 biopsies in which thymus tissue was detected and in five of six autopsies. Graft rejection was seen in one autopsy. Biopsies were important for showing the following: 1) the damaging effect of pulse steroids on thymopoiesis; 2) the need for adequate immunosuppression of atypical subjects; and 3) the presence of thymopoiesis in the presence of ongoing immunosuppression. In addition, the biopsy could rule out graft rejection in the atypical subjects who had oligoclonal T cells that could cause rejection. In summary, combining biopsy and autopsy data, allogeneic thymus tissues showed thymopoiesis in 24 of 29 (86%) evaluable transplants. The results of these biopsies led to improved care of these complex patients.

Human T cell reconstitution in DiGeorge syndrome and HIV-1 infection.

The thymus is essential for proper development and maintenance of a broad T cell repertoire capable of recognizing a wide-range of foreign antigens. Recent advances in multicolor flow cytometry, non-invasive imaging techniques, and molecular assessments of thymic function have enabled a more comprehensive characterization of human thymic output in clinical settings than in the past. These techniques have been particularly valuable in monitoring human T cells after therapeutic thymic grafting for complete DiGeorge syndrome and during HIV-1 infection and AIDS. By defining the degree and mechanisms of T cell reconstitution in these settings, clinical investigators and primary caregivers have been able to better diagnose, treat and care for individuals with congenital or acquired immune deficiencies associated with loss of thymic function.

Review of 54 patients with complete DiGeorge anomaly enrolled in protocols for thymus transplantation: outcome of 44 consecutive transplants.

The purpose of this study was to characterize a large group of infants with complete DiGeorge anomaly and to evaluate the ability of thymus transplantation to reconstitute immune function in these infants. DiGeorge anomaly is characterized by varying defects of the heart, thymus, and parathyroid glands. Complete DiGeorge anomaly refers to the subgroup that is athymic (< 1%). The characteristics of 54 subjects at presentation and results from 44 consecutive thymus transplantations are reported. Remarkably, only 52% had 22q11 hemizygosity and only 57% had congenital heart disease requiring surgery. Thirty-one percent developed an atypical phenotype with rash and lymphadenopathy. To date, 33 of 44 subjects who received a transplant survive (75%) with post-transplantation follow-up as long as 13 years. All deaths occurred within 12 months of transplantation. All 25 subjects who were tested 1 year after transplantation had developed polyclonal T-cell repertoires and proliferative responses to mitogens. Adverse events developing after transplantation included hypothyroidism in 5 subjects and enteritis in 1 subject. In summary, diagnosis of complete DiGeorge anomaly is challenging because of the variability of presentation. Thymus transplantation was well tolerated and resulted in stable immunoreconstitution in these infants.

Statistical analysis of antigen receptor spectratype data.

MOTIVATION: The effectiveness of vertebrate adaptive immunity depends crucially on the establishment and maintenance of extreme diversity in the antigen receptor repertoire. Spectratype analysis is a method used in clinical and basic immunological settings in which antigen receptor length diversity is assessed as a surrogate for functional diversity. The purpose of this paper is to describe the systematic derivation and application of statistical methods for the analysis of spectratype data. RESULTS: The basic probability model used for spectratype analysis is the multinomial model with n, the total number of counts, indeterminate. We derive the appropriate statistics and statistical procedures for testing hypotheses regarding differences in antigen receptor distributions and variable repertoire diversity in different treatment groups. We then apply these methods to spectratype data obtained from several healthy donors to examine the differences between normal CD4+ and CD8+ T cell repertoires, and to data from a thymus transplant patient to examine the development of repertoire diversity following the transplant.

SpA: web-accessible spectratype analysis: data management, statistical analysis and visualization.

SUMMARY: SpA is a web-accessible system for the management, visualization and statistical analysis of T-cell receptor spectratype data. Users upload data from their spectratype analyzers to SpA, which saves the raw data and user-defined supplementary covariates to a secure database. The statistical engine performs several data analyses and statistical summaries. The visualization engine displays spectratype histograms in a Java applet and in an image file suitable for download. All of these results are also saved to the database and remain accessible to the user. Additional statistical tools specific to the analysis of multiple spectratypes are also available through the SpA interface. AVAILABILITY: The service is freely accessible via the web at http://www.duke.edu/~kepler/spa.html. Additional technical support and specialized statistical analysis and consultation are available by arrangement with the authors and, depending on the service requested, may be subject to fee.

Postnatal thymus transplantation with immunosuppression as treatment for DiGeorge syndrome.

Complete DiGeorge syndrome is a fatal congenital disorder characterized by athymia, hypoparathyroidism, and heart defects. Less than half of patients are 22q11 hemizygous. The goal of this study was to assess if immune suppression followed by postnatal thymus transplantation would lead to T-cell function in 6 infant patients who had host T cells at the time of transplantation. All infants had fewer than 50 recent thymic emigrants (CD3(+)CD45RA(+)CD62L(+)) per cubic millimeter (mm(3)) and all had some proliferative response to the mitogen phytohemagglutinin. Four infants had rash, lymphadenopathy, and oligoclonal populations of T cells in the periphery. Five of 6 patients are alive at the follow-up interval of 15 months to 30 months. The 5 surviving patients developed a mean of 983 host CD3(+) T cells/mm(3) (range, 536/mm(3)-1574/mm(3)), a mean of 437 recent thymic emigrants/mm(3) (range, 196/mm(3)-785/mm(3)), and normal proliferative responses to phytohemaglutinin (follow-up from day 376 to day 873). The TCR repertoire became polyclonal in patients who presented with oligoclonal T cells. All patients had thymopoiesis on allograft biopsy. Postnatal thymus transplantation after treatment with Thymoglobulin shows promise as therapy for infants with complete DiGeorge syndrome who have significant proliferative responses to mitogens or who develop rash, lymphadenopathy, and oligoclonal T cells.

Complete DiGeorge syndrome: development of rash, lymphadenopathy, and oligoclonal T cells in 5 cases.

BACKGROUND: Five patients with DiGeorge syndrome presented with infections, skin rashes, and lymphadenopathy after the newborn period. T-cell counts and function varied greatly in each patient. Initial laboratory testing did not suggest athymia in these patients. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the patients had significant immunodeficiency. METHODS: Research testing of peripheral blood included immunoscope evaluation of T-cell receptor beta variable gene segment repertoire diversity, quantification of T-cell receptor rearrangement excision circles, and detection of naive T cells (expressing CD45RA and CD62L). RESULTS: The patients were classified as having DiGeorge syndrome on the basis of syndromic associations and heart, parathyroid, and immune abnormalities. Immunoscope evaluation revealed that the T-cell repertoires were strikingly oligoclonal in all patients. There were few recent thymic emigrants, as indicated by the very low numbers of naive T cells (<50/mm(3)) and the absence of T-cell receptor rearrangement excision circles. These studies showed that all 5 patients were athymic. Two patients died, one from infection. No thymus was found during the complete autopsy performed on one patient. CONCLUSION: Patients with DiGeorge syndrome, skin rash, and lymphadenopathy should undergo analysis of naive T-cell numbers and of T-cell receptor beta variability segment repertoire to determine whether they are athymic, even if they have T cells with mitogen responsiveness. It is important for physicians to realize that patients with complete DiGeorge syndrome remain profoundly immunodeficient after development of these atypical features (rash, lymphadenopathy, and oligoclonal T cells). Prompt diagnosis is necessary for appropriate management.