Differential IL-7 responses in developing human thymocytes

作者：Marino Julie H; Tan Chibing; Taylor Ashlee A; Bentley Caroline; Van De Wiele C Justin; Ranne Richard; Paliotta Marco; Broughan Thomas A; Teague T Kent^*

来源：Human Immunology, 2010, 71(4): 329-333.

DOI：10.1016/j.humimm.2010.01.009

• Human
• Thymocyte
• IL-7 signaling
• Common gamma receptor
• IL-7R alpha

Interleukin (IL)-7 is a factor essential for mouse and human thymopoiesis. Mouse thymocytes have altered sensitivities to IL-7 at different developmental stages. CD4/CD8 double positive (DP) mouse thymocytes are shielded from the influence of IL-7 because of loss of CD127 (IL-7R alpha). In this study, we assessed IL-7 receptor expression and IL-7 signaling in human thymocytes. We found human DP cells to be severely limited in their ability to phosphorylate STAT-5 in response to IL-7. The relative expression levels of the IL-7-inducible proteins Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 were also lower in human DP cells, consistent with a stage-specific decrease in IL-7 responsiveness. IL-7 responses were restored in a subset of cells that matured past the DP stage. Unlike the regulation of IL-7 signaling in mouse thymocytes, loss of IL-7 signaling in human DP cells was not due to absence of CD127, but instead correlated with downregulation of CD132 (common gamma chain).

• 出版日期2010-4