![]() Additional diversity is added through imprecise joining of the V and J regions along with random nucleotide additions and deletions at the V(D)J junctions. Inside the thymus, the constant (C) and variable (V) domains of the α and β chains of the TCR are assembled via random genetic rearrangements of the variable (V), diversity (D) and joining (J) gene segments. This diversity is generated during thymocyte development by a process of somatic recombination. The immune system’s ability to fight a large array of foreign particles is facilitated by the diversity of the T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire. 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. 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 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. We have shown that the sample size is a sensitive parameter in the predicted flow divergence values, but not in the spectratype divergence values. Using flow cytometry and spectratype data, we have defined a divergence metric that quantifies the deviation from normal of T-cell receptor repertoire. 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. Spectratyping generates data about T-cell receptor CDR3 length distribution for each BV gene but is technically complex. T-cell receptor diversity correlates with immune competency and is of particular interest in patients undergoing immune reconstitution. ![]()
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