Human adaptive immune receptor repertoire analysis-Past, present, and future

Area of Science:

• Immunology and Genetics
• Molecular Biology of Adaptive Immunity

Background:

• Adaptive immune antigen receptors (immunoglobulins and T cell receptors) are generated through unique combinatorial DNA rearrangement.
• Receptor diversity is crucial for pathogen recognition but also implicated in autoimmune diseases and allergies.
• Understanding these receptors is key to deciphering immune system function and dysfunction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of the foundations, recent progress, and future prospects in the study of adaptive immune antigen receptors.
• To highlight the impact of technological advancements, particularly high-throughput DNA sequencing, on immune system research.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent technological developments, focusing on high-throughput DNA sequencing.
• Analysis of genomic DNA rearrangement processes generating immune receptor diversity.
• Evaluation of B cell and T cell clones and their expressed antigen receptors.

Main Results:

• High-throughput sequencing enables unprecedented depth in evaluating immune cell clones and their receptors.
• New insights into the evolutionary dynamics between host immunity and pathogens are emerging.
• Advanced understanding of the molecular basis of immune responses, both physiological and pathological.

Conclusions:

• Technological advancements have revolutionized the study of adaptive immunity and antigen receptor diversity.
• This field offers enhanced opportunities for scrutinizing host-pathogen interactions and immune-related diseases.
• Future research holds potential for predictive modeling of immune responses and developing novel therapeutic strategies.