Question

what is the relationship between T-cells and DiGeorge Syndrome? How does the absence of a Thymus resulting in the lack of T-cell production affect the adaptive immune response of people with DiGeorge Syndrome? Why do they get sick more easily?

Answer 1

Digeorge syndrome is described as the immune deficiency disease characterised by the abnormal development of 3 rd and 4 th brachial pouches , results in thymal plasia, parathyroid hypoplasia and heart abnormalities.

DGS patients have thymus rudimentary and reduced number of T cell production..

T cells are produced in thymus gland ,when thymusgland is absent it leads to reduced production of T cells.

T cells are the cells which recognise the surface antigen of the pathogen and presents the antigen to the b cells ,where the b cells diffrentiate into plasma and memory cells.

The plasma cells produce antibodies which therefore kill the pathogen or foreign microorganism.

Therefore when T cells production is less, it affects the adaptive immune response of people with Digeorge syndrome.

Symptoms of this syndrome include heart defects, poor immune function, cleft palate, complications related to calcium in blood and delayed development with emotional and behavioural problemsproblems, learning disabilities, kidney problems, auto immune disorders.

These people get sick more easily because of the poor immune system function, every microorganism that attacks their body makes them sick, they looses their adaptive immune response, and are unable to produce antibodies to the respective antigen due to the lack of antigen presentstion by the T cells.