Immunological reconstitution in a patient with ZAP-70 deficiency following transfusion of blood lymphocytes from a previously transplanted sibling without conditioning

Abstract

SCID is a clinically defined group of monogenetic diseases characterized by life-threatening infections in early infancy. One variant of SCID is due to defects in the Zeta-chain-associated protein (ZAP-70; MIM+176947), which results in deficient signal transduction from the TCR to the nucleus and abnormal maturation and function of thymocytes. A characteristic finding is a complete lack of circulating CD8+ T cells, whereas CD4+ T cells are present, but without function.1 Although ZAP-70 is not expressed in B cells, humoral immunity is indirectly affected because of inadequate T-cell help. Currently, hematopoietic cell transplantation represents the only curative treatment.1