Restriction of T-cell receptor repertoires in idiopathic CD4(+) lymphocytopenia

We report that alpha/beta and gamma/delta T-cell repertoires of three patie nts with idiopathic CD4(+) lymphocytopenia, who showed different clinical m anifestations and outcomes over time, were highly restricted. The disruptio n of T-cell repertoires does not influence the susceptibility to infections : the first patient was unable to attain a protective response to mycobacte rium, the second showed clinical improvement and the third did not develop opportunistic infections, These results indicate that idiopathic CD4(+) lym phocytopenia could give rise to mono-/oligoclonal T-cell expansions, but th e degree of repertoire disturbance is not indicative of the severity of dis ease progression.