Regulation of human T cell proliferation by IL-7.

RJ Armitage, AE Namen, HM Sassenfeld… - … (Baltimore, Md.: 1950 …, 1990 - journals.aai.org
RJ Armitage, AE Namen, HM Sassenfeld, KH Grabstein
Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md.: 1950), 1990journals.aai.org
The regulation of human T cell proliferation by rIL-7 was investigated. Purified peripheral
blood T cells were stimulated to proliferate in a short-term assay by IL-7 in the presence of
CD3 mAb or lectin. This stimulation was accompanied by a significant increase in the
expression of IL-2R on both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells over that seen with mitogen alone. The
proliferation of these cells in the presence of exogenous IL-7 involved both IL-2-dependent
and-independent mechanisms as shown by the ability of neutralizing IL-2 antibody to …
Abstract
The regulation of human T cell proliferation by rIL-7 was investigated. Purified peripheral blood T cells were stimulated to proliferate in a short-term assay by IL-7 in the presence of CD3 mAb or lectin. This stimulation was accompanied by a significant increase in the expression of IL-2R on both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells over that seen with mitogen alone. The proliferation of these cells in the presence of exogenous IL-7 involved both IL-2-dependent and - independent mechanisms as shown by the ability of neutralizing IL-2 antibody to partially inhibit the response. Anti-IL-4 and anti-IL-6 antibodies had no effect on IL-7-induced T cell growth. These results suggest that the costimulatory effect of IL-7 on human T cells is primarily direct, not involving other intermediate T cell growth factors. IL-7 was also found to be mitogenic in a long-term assay in the absence of any costimulus, with the onset of proliferation occurring later than that seen in the presence of mitogen. These results demonstrate that IL-7 provides a potent T cell stimulus either alone or in the presence of co-mitogen and, although this stimulus is accompanied by an increase in the level of IL-2R expression, it is not dependent on the action of IL-2 for its effect.
journals.aai.org