Abnormalities in adaptive cell development or function

What are severe combined immunodeficiencies (SCID)?

Severe combined immunodeficiencies (SCID) are a group of disorders resulting from impaired immune cell development, often leading to severe and life-threatening infections.

What causes SCID?

Is often caused by defects in genes involved in somatic recombination, which is necessary for the development of functional T and B cells.

Why are SCID patients highly susceptible to infections?

SCID patients lack functional T and B cells, essential components of the adaptive immune system, leading to a severely weakened ability to fight infections.

What is somatic recombination and how is it related to SCID?

Somatic recombination is the process by which T and B cells generate diverse antigen receptors.

Mutations in genes responsible for this process can result in SCID due to the lack of functional immune cells.