IL-7: maintaining T-cell memory and achieving homeostasis

LM Bradley, L Haynes, SL Swain - Trends in immunology, 2005 - cell.com
Trends in immunology, 2005cell.com
During an immune response, peripheral T-cell populations expand and then contract as the
response subsides, thus maintaining a fairly constant number of CD4 and CD8 T cells
throughout the life of the individual. The important factors that control this homeostasis are
now beginning to be understood. Interleukin-7 (IL-7) has emerged as a central regulator of
the survival and homeostasis of CD4 and CD8 T cells. Both naïve and memory T-cell
populations are highly dependent on the presence of IL-7 for their persistence and survival …
During an immune response, peripheral T-cell populations expand and then contract as the response subsides, thus maintaining a fairly constant number of CD4 and CD8 T cells throughout the life of the individual. The important factors that control this homeostasis are now beginning to be understood. Interleukin-7 (IL-7) has emerged as a central regulator of the survival and homeostasis of CD4 and CD8 T cells. Both naïve and memory T-cell populations are highly dependent on the presence of IL-7 for their persistence and survival. In this Review, we discuss the role of IL-7 in the survival and homeostasis of naïve and memory T cells and how that role is regulated by other factors.
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