Skip navigation

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/zap70-related-severe-combined-immunodeficiency/

ZAP70-related severe combined immunodeficiency

Description

ZAP70-related severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is an inherited disorder that damages the immune system. ZAP70-related SCID is one of several forms of severe combined immunodeficiency, a group of disorders with several genetic causes. Children with SCID lack virtually all immune protection from bacteria, viruses, and fungi. They are prone to repeated and persistent infections that can be very serious or life-threatening. Often the organisms that cause infection in people with this disorder are described as opportunistic because they ordinarily do not cause illness in healthy people. Infants with SCID typically experience pneumonia, chronic diarrhea, and widespread skin rashes. They also grow much more slowly than healthy children. If not treated in a way that restores immune function, children with SCID usually live only a year or two.

Most individuals with ZAP70-related SCID are diagnosed in the first 6 months of life. At least one individual first showed signs of the condition later in childhood and had less severe symptoms, primarily recurrent respiratory and skin infections.

Frequency

ZAP70-related SCID is a rare disorder. Only about 20 affected individuals have been identified. The prevalence of SCID from all genetic causes combined is approximately 1 in 50,000.

Causes

As the name indicates, this condition is caused by variants (also called mutations) in the ZAP70 gene. The ZAP70 gene provides instructions for making a protein called zeta-chain-associated protein kinase. This protein is part of a signaling pathway that directs the development of and turns on (activates) immune system cells called T cells. T cells identify foreign substances and defend the body against infection.

The ZAP70 gene is important for the development and function of several types of T cells. These include cytotoxic T cells (CD8+ T cells), whose functions include destroying cells infected by viruses. The ZAP70 gene is also involved in the activation of helper T cells (CD4+ T cells). These cells direct and assist the functions of the immune system by influencing the activities of other immune system cells.

Variants in the ZAP70 gene prevent the production of zeta-chain-associated protein kinase or result in a protein that is unstable and cannot perform its function. A loss of functional zeta-chain-associated protein kinase leads to the absence of CD8+ T cells and an excess of inactive CD4+ T cells. The resulting shortage of active T cells causes people with ZAP70-related SCID to be more susceptible to infection.

Learn more about the gene associated with ZAP70-related severe combined immunodeficiency

Inheritance

This condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, which means both copies of the gene in each cell have variants. The parents of an individual with an autosomal recessive condition each carry one copy of the altered gene, but they typically do not show signs and symptoms of the condition.

Other Names for This Condition

  • Selective T-cell defect
  • ZAP70-related SCID
  • Zeta-associated protein 70 deficiency

Additional Information & Resources

Genetic Testing Information

Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center

Patient Support and Advocacy Resources

Clinical Trials

Catalog of Genes and Diseases from OMIM

Scientific Articles on PubMed

References

  • Elder ME. SCID due to ZAP-70 deficiency. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 1997 Nov-Dec;19(6):546-50. doi: 10.1097/00043426-199711000-00014. No abstract available. Citation on PubMed
  • Elder ME. T-cell immunodeficiencies. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2000 Dec;47(6):1253-74. doi: 10.1016/s0031-3955(05)70270-4. Citation on PubMed
  • Grunebaum E, Sharfe N, Roifman CM. Human T cell immunodeficiency: when signal transduction goes wrong. Immunol Res. 2006;35(1-2):117-26. doi: 10.1385/ir:35:1:117. Citation on PubMed
  • Picard C, Dogniaux S, Chemin K, Maciorowski Z, Lim A, Mazerolles F, Rieux-Laucat F, Stolzenberg MC, Debre M, Magny JP, Le Deist F, Fischer A, Hivroz C. Hypomorphic mutation of ZAP70 in human results in a late onset immunodeficiency and no autoimmunity. Eur J Immunol. 2009 Jul;39(7):1966-76. doi: 10.1002/eji.200939385. Citation on PubMed
  • Roifman CM, Dadi H, Somech R, Nahum A, Sharfe N. Characterization of zeta-associated protein, 70 kd (ZAP70)-deficient human lymphocytes. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2010 Dec;126(6):1226-33.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2010.07.029. Citation on PubMed
  • Turul T, Tezcan I, Artac H, de Bruin-Versteeg S, Barendregt BH, Reisli I, Sanal O, van Dongen JJ, van der Burg M. Clinical heterogeneity can hamper the diagnosis of patients with ZAP70 deficiency. Eur J Pediatr. 2009 Jan;168(1):87-93. doi: 10.1007/s00431-008-0718-x. Epub 2008 May 29. Citation on PubMed
  • Walkovich K, Vander Lugt M. ZAP70-Related Combined Immunodeficiency. 2009 Oct 20 [updated 2021 Sep 23]. In: Adam MP, Feldman J, Mirzaa GM, Pagon RA, Wallace SE, Bean LJH, Gripp KW, Amemiya A, editors. GeneReviews(R) [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2024. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK20221/ Citation on PubMed

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.