Chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and DiGeorge syndrome. 2019

Kathleen E Sullivan
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome is the most common microdeletion syndrome in humans. The effects are protean and highly variable, making a unified approach difficult. Nevertheless, commonalities have been identified and white papers with recommended evaluations and anticipatory guidance have been published. This review will cover the immune system in detail and discuss both the primary features and the secondary features related to thymic hypoplasia. A brief discussion of the other organ system involvement will be provided for context. The immune system, percolating throughout the body can impact the function of other organs through allergy or autoimmune disease affecting organs in deleterious manners. Our work has shown that the primary effect of thymic hypoplasia is to restrict T cell production. Subsequent homeostatic proliferation and perhaps other factors drive a Th2 polarization, most obvious in adulthood. This contributes to atopic risk in this population. Thymic hypoplasia also contributes to low regulatory T cells and this may be part of the overall increased risk of autoimmunity. Collectively, the effects are complex and often age-dependent. Future goals of improving thymic function or augmenting thymic volume may offer a direct intervention to ameliorate infections, atopy, and autoimmunity.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D006969 Hypersensitivity, Immediate Hypersensitivity reactions which occur within minutes of exposure to challenging antigen due to the release of histamine which follows the antigen-antibody reaction and causes smooth muscle contraction and increased vascular permeability. Atopic Hypersensitivity,Hypersensitivity, Atopic,Hypersensitivity, Type I,IgE-Mediated Hypersensitivity,Type I Hypersensitivity,Atopic Hypersensitivities,Hypersensitivities, Atopic,Hypersensitivities, IgE-Mediated,Hypersensitivities, Immediate,Hypersensitivities, Type I,Hypersensitivity, IgE-Mediated,IgE Mediated Hypersensitivity,IgE-Mediated Hypersensitivities,Immediate Hypersensitivities,Immediate Hypersensitivity,Type I Hypersensitivities
D007239 Infections Invasion of the host organism by microorganisms or their toxins or by parasites that can cause pathological conditions or diseases. Infection,Infection and Infestation,Infections and Infestations,Infestation and Infection,Infestations and Infections
D002454 Cell Differentiation Progressive restriction of the developmental potential and increasing specialization of function that leads to the formation of specialized cells, tissues, and organs. Differentiation, Cell,Cell Differentiations,Differentiations, Cell
D002892 Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22 A specific pair of GROUP G CHROMOSOMES of the human chromosome classification. Chromosome 22
D004062 DiGeorge Syndrome Congenital syndrome characterized by a wide spectrum of characteristics including the absence of the THYMUS and PARATHYROID GLANDS resulting in T-cell immunodeficiency, HYPOCALCEMIA, defects in the outflow tract of the heart, and craniofacial anomalies. Velocardiofacial Syndrome,22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome,22q11.2DS,Autosomal Dominant Opitz G-Bbb Syndrome,Catch22,Conotruncal Anomaly Face Syndrome,Conotruncal Anomaly Face Syndrome (CTAF),Deletion 22q11.2 Syndrome,DiGeorge Anomaly,DiGeorge Sequence,Familial Third and Fourth Pharyngeal Pouch Syndrome,Hypoplasia of Thymus and Parathyroids,Pharyngeal Pouch Syndrome,Sedlackova Syndrome,Shprintzen Syndrome,Shprintzen VCF Syndrome,Third and Fourth Pharyngeal Pouch Syndrome,Thymic Aplasia Syndrome,VCF Syndrome,Velo-Cardio-Facial Syndrome,Autosomal Dominant Opitz G Bbb Syndrome,Deletion Syndrome, 22q11.2,Syndrome, DiGeorge,Syndrome, Sedlackova,Syndrome, Shprintzen,Syndrome, VCF,Syndrome, Velo-Cardio-Facial,Syndrome, Velocardiofacial,Velo Cardio Facial Syndrome
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013601 T-Lymphocytes Lymphocytes responsible for cell-mediated immunity. Two types have been identified - cytotoxic (T-LYMPHOCYTES, CYTOTOXIC) and helper T-lymphocytes (T-LYMPHOCYTES, HELPER-INDUCER). They are formed when lymphocytes circulate through the THYMUS GLAND and differentiate to thymocytes. When exposed to an antigen, they divide rapidly and produce large numbers of new T cells sensitized to that antigen. T Cell,T Lymphocyte,T-Cells,Thymus-Dependent Lymphocytes,Cell, T,Cells, T,Lymphocyte, T,Lymphocyte, Thymus-Dependent,Lymphocytes, T,Lymphocytes, Thymus-Dependent,T Cells,T Lymphocytes,T-Cell,T-Lymphocyte,Thymus Dependent Lymphocytes,Thymus-Dependent Lymphocyte
D013950 Thymus Gland A single, unpaired primary lymphoid organ situated in the MEDIASTINUM, extending superiorly into the neck to the lower edge of the THYROID GLAND and inferiorly to the fourth costal cartilage. It is necessary for normal development of immunologic function early in life. By puberty, it begins to involute and much of the tissue is replaced by fat. Thymus,Gland, Thymus,Glands, Thymus,Thymus Glands
D015551 Autoimmunity Process whereby the immune system reacts against the body's own tissues. Autoimmunity may produce or be caused by AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES. Autoimmune Response,Autoimmune Responses,Autoimmunities

Related Publications

Kathleen E Sullivan
April 2023, Current allergy and asthma reports,
Kathleen E Sullivan
October 2018, Current allergy and asthma reports,
Kathleen E Sullivan
October 2009, The Journal of pediatrics,
Kathleen E Sullivan
June 2015, Pediatrics in review,
Kathleen E Sullivan
October 1998, Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP,
Kathleen E Sullivan
August 2019, Acta medica portuguesa,
Kathleen E Sullivan
October 2001, Current opinion in pediatrics,
Copied contents to your clipboard!