Work

The Future of Blood Testing Is the Immunome

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: It is increasingly clear that an extraordinarily diverse range of clinically important conditions—including infections, vaccinations, autoimmune diseases, transplants, transfusion reactions, aging, and cancers—leave telltale signatures in the millions of V(D)J-rearranged antibody and T cell receptor [TR per the Human Genome Organization (HUGO) nomenclature but more commonly known as TCR] genes collectively expressed by a person’s B cells (antibodies) and T cells. We refer to these as the immunome. Because of its diversity and complexity, the immunome provides singular opportunities for advancing personalized medicine by serving as the substrate for a highly multiplexed, near-universal blood test. Here we discuss some of these opportunities, the current state of immunome-based diagnostics, and highlight some of the challenges involved. We conclude with a call to clinicians, researchers, and others to join efforts with the Adaptive Immune Receptor Repertoire Community (AIRR-C) to realize the diagnostic potential of the immunome.

Source: Frontiers in Immunology

DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.626793

Authors: Ramy A. Arnaout, Eline T. Luning Prak, Nicholas Schwab, Florian Rubelt, the Adaptive Immune Receptor Repertoire Community

Institutions: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Münster

Language: English

Topic: T-cell and B-cell Immunology

Subfield: Immunology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,950