TCRgefocaliseerde

TCRgefocaliseerde is a Dutch term used in immunology to describe an approach that places emphasis on the T-cell receptor (TCR) as the central element in studying immune responses and developing T cell–based therapies. The expression appears mainly in Dutch-language literature and does not have a single, universal definition in English-language sources. In practice, it signals a TCR-centered perspective rather than a broad, receptor-agnostic view of immune activity.

The concept encompasses methods and ideas that concentrate on TCRs, including profiling TCR repertoires by sequencing, identifying antigen-specific TCRs, and exploring TCR–MHC interactions. It is often associated with single-cell analyses and computational approaches that connect TCR sequences to functional specificity. In therapeutic contexts it also relates to engineering T cells with defined TCRs (TCR-T cells).

Applications include cancer immunotherapy, infectious disease research, and autoimmunity, where a TCRgefocaliseerde approach aims to determine which TCRs recognize particular antigens, monitor clonal dynamics, and inform personalized diagnostics and treatments. It emphasizes sequence-to-function relationships and may support the discovery of repertoire-based biomarkers.

Challenges include the enormous diversity of TCRs, cross-reactivity and off-target risks, difficulty in reliably linking TCR sequence to antigen specificity, and regulatory or manufacturing considerations for TCR-engineered therapies. Effective use of the concept often requires integrating sequencing data with functional assays and structural insights into MHC–peptide–TCR interactions.