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ZAP-70 Deficiency

By

James Fernandez

, MD, PhD, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University

Reviewed/Revised Jan 2023
View PATIENT EDUCATION

ZAP-70 (zeta-associated protein 70) deficiency is an immunodeficiency disorder involving impaired T-cell activation caused by a signaling defect.

ZAP-70 is important in T-cell signaling and in T-cell selection in the thymus. ZAP-70 deficiency causes T-cell activation defects.

Patients who have ZAP-70 deficiency present during infancy or early childhood with recurrent infections similar to those in severe combined immunodeficiency Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) Severe combined immunodeficiency is characterized by low to absent T cells and a low, high, or normal number of B cells and natural killer cells. Most infants develop opportunistic infections... read more (SCID); however, they live longer, and the deficiency may not be diagnosed until they are several years old.

Diagnosis of ZAP-70 Deficiency

  • Routine neonatal screening using the T-cell receptor excision circle (TREC) test

  • White blood cell (WBC) count

  • Mitogen and vaccine antigen stimulation assays

ZAP-70 deficiency may be suspected in older children with a history of recurrent infections or other characteristic manifestations. Complete blood count, including absolute WBC count and differential, is done; immunoglobulin levels are measured. Responses to mitogens and to standard vaccine antigens are determined to evaluate WBC and antibody function.

The disorder is considered in patients with the following:

  • Lymphopenia

  • A low number of or no T cells

  • Absent lymphocyte proliferative responses to mitogens

Other tests may be done, including flow cytometry to determine T, B, and natural killer cell counts. Adenosine deaminase (ADA) and purine nucleoside phosphorylase levels in WBCs, red blood cells, and fibroblasts are measured.

Patients have normal, low, or elevated serum immunoglobulin levels and normal or elevated numbers of circulating CD4 T cells but essentially no CD8 T cells.

Their CD4 T cells do not respond to mitogens or allogeneic cells in vitro and do not produce CD8 cytotoxic T cells. In contrast, activity of natural killer cells, which are mostly CD16 or CD56 cells, is normal.

Testing of family members can be considered if clinically relevant.

Treatment of ZAP-70 Deficiency

  • Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Treatment of ZAP-70 deficiency generally involves preventing infection, managing acute infection, and replacing missing immune globulins.

View PATIENT EDUCATION
NOTE: This is the Professional Version. CONSUMERS: View Consumer Version
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