B-cell receptor and T-cell receptor repertoires (BCR/TCR repertoires)

The B-cell receptor (BCR) and T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoires represent the vast and diverse collection of unique antigen-recognition molecules expressed by B and T lymphocytes, respectively. These repertoires are generated through somatic V(D)J recombination and junctional diversity, providing the structural basis for the adaptive immune system's ability to recognize a nearly infinite array of pathogens and malignant cells (Frontiers in Immunology, 2020). While not a single therapeutic target, the repertoire serves as a critical biomarker for monitoring immune health, vaccine response, and minimal residual disease in hematologic cancers (Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology, 2019). Pharmacological intervention often involves modulating these repertoires, such as using checkpoint inhibitors to expand tumor-reactive T-cell clones or using kinase inhibitors like Ibrutinib to disrupt BCR signaling in B-cell malignancies (Science, 2015; PubChem). Furthermore, engineered therapies like CAR-T cells utilize the structural principles of these receptors to redirect the immune repertoire against specific disease targets (NIH, 2023). Understanding the dynamics of these repertoires is essential for the development of personalized immunotherapies and the management of autoimmune conditions.

Other names

Adaptive immune receptor repertoireAIRRImmune repertoireLymphocyte receptor repertoireB-cell receptor repertoireT-cell receptor repertoire

Modulation of immune receptor signaling, clonal expansion of specific receptor-bearing cells, and targeted depletion of receptor-expressing lymphocyte populations.