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TCRa deficiency

Related gene: TRAC

Inheritance pattern: Autosomal recessive

This is an autosomal recessive disease due to variants in the TCR alpha subunit constant (TRAC) gene that causes markedly reduced surface expression of the T cell receptor alpha-beta (TCRalpha-beta) complex. The TCRalpha-beta complex is crucial for T cell signaling and function. 

Those with TCRa deficiency have absent numbers of TCR-alpha-beta+ T cells but increased TCR-gamma-delta+ T cells together with high numbers of eosinophils, and sometimes elevated immunoglobulin E (IgE) but normal IgG levels. Patients present within the first two years of life suffering from recurrent respiratory tract infections, candidiasis, and gastroenteritis (Salmonella, Cryptosporidium, rotavirus) that respond to conventional treatment. Susceptibility to herpesvirus infections is also reported. Additional clinical features included failure to thrive, immune dysregulation (e.g., vitiligo, alopecia, eczema, and autoimmune hemolytic anemia), lymphadenopathy, and hepatomegaly. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been curative in this disease.

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Learn more about combined immune deficiencies.

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Adapted from the IDF Patient & Family Handbook for Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases, Sixth Edition 
Copyright ©2019 by Immune Deficiency Foundation, USA