Clinical immunity
Repertoire analysis of memory T-cell receptors in Japanese patients with inflammatory bowel disease
JGH Open. 2020 Feb 6;4(4):624-631.
Division of Gastroenterology Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
Yoichi Kakuta
Our repertoire analysis was used in the study of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The authors compared the TCR repertoire of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). As a result, the authors reported that there was a difference in TCR α-chain and β-chain diversity, suggesting that it may be useful for patient stratification.

Hematological malignancy
Reduced-intensity haploidentical peripheral blood stem cell transplantation using low-dose thymoglobulin for aggressive adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma patients in non-complete remission
Ann Hematol. 2020 Mar;99(3):599-607.
Hematology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health
Makoto Hirosawa
Our repertoire analysis was used in the study of haplotype half-matched peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (haplo-PBSCT) and nonmyeloablative transplantation using low-dose thymoglobulin in patients with high-grade adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (aggressive ATLL). The paper reports that the TCRβ chain diversity was lower than that in healthy subjects one year after transplantation, but did not lead to the development of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).

Basal immunity
High Frequency Production of T Cell-Derived iPSC Clones Capable of Generating Potent Cytotoxic T Cells
Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev. 2020 Mar 13; 16: 126-135.
Laboratory of Immunology, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University
Seiji Nagano
Our TCR repertoire analysis was used in a study in which cytotoxic T cells (CTL) were cloned and regenerated using the iPS cell technology and used for cell therapy. The authors are evaluating the function and clonality of regenerated C TLs after isolating MART-1 antigen-specific CTLs with tetramers and converting them into iPS cells. These results support the realization of the T-iPSC strategy.

Clinical immunity
High-throughput sequencing of IgG B-cell receptors reveals frequent usage of the rearranged IGHV4-28/IGHJ4 gene in primary immune thrombocytopenia
Sci Rep. 2019 Jun 14;9(1):8645.
Department of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine
Makoto Hirokawa
Our repertoire analysis was used in the study of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). In the analysis of BCR IgG, the authors reported that IGHV4-28 and IGHJ4 were used more frequently in the patient group than in the healthy group. In addition, the authors report the existence of disease-related clones with a single amino acid substitution in the CDR3 region. These results suggest that it may be a B-cell population induced by a specific antigen, which may lead to an understanding of the immune pathology of ITP.

Clinical immunity
Next-generation sequencing analysis of the human T-cell and B-cell receptor repertoire diversity before and after hepatitis B vaccination
Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2019;15(11):2738-2753.
Division of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine
Akio Miyasaka
Our repertoire analysis was used in the study of the hepatitis B (HB) vaccine. The authors analyzed the TCRβ chain and BCR IgG chain repertoires for the immune response before, after the second, and after the third vaccination with the HB vaccine. As a result, it was reported that the diversity of the TCR β chain increased significantly, while the diversity of BCR IgG decreased significantly after the second vaccination. It is known that immunity acquisition with HB vaccine does not settle in 5-10% (Vaccine Failure). Therefore, it is suggested that the change in diversity may be related to the success (better response) of the HB vaccine.

Basal immunity
The R229Q mutation of Rag2 does not characterize severe immunodeficiency in mice
Sci Rep. 2019 Mar 14;9(1):4415.
Department of Biochemistry, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University
Young Jin, Ara Lee
R229Q mutations in the Rag2 gene involved in TCR gene rearrangement have been identified in patients with severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID) and Omenn syndrome, and our repertoire analysis was used to construct a mouse model. As a result, it has been reported that the inhibition of gene rearrangement may occur due to the involvement of other factors, not just the R229Q mutation alone.