Interleukin 7 and T cell receptor signals regulate homeostasis of CD4 memory cells

B Seddon, P Tomlinson, R Zamoyska - Nature immunology, 2003 - nature.com
B Seddon, P Tomlinson, R Zamoyska
Nature immunology, 2003nature.com
Immunological memory depends on the long-term maintenance of memory T cells. Although
the factors that maintain CD8 T cell memory are well understood, those responsible for CD4
memory are not well defined. We have shown here that interleukin 7 (IL-7) was an important
survival factor for CD4 memory T cells that together with T cell receptor (TCR) signals
regulated homeostasis of the CD4 memory population in lymphopenic conditions and in the
intact immune system. Thus, IL-7 contributes to the maintenance of all naive and memory T …
Abstract
Immunological memory depends on the long-term maintenance of memory T cells. Although the factors that maintain CD8 T cell memory are well understood, those responsible for CD4 memory are not well defined. We have shown here that interleukin 7 (IL-7) was an important survival factor for CD4 memory T cells that together with T cell receptor (TCR) signals regulated homeostasis of the CD4 memory population in lymphopenic conditions and in the intact immune system. Thus, IL-7 contributes to the maintenance of all naive and memory T cell subsets, and therefore controls the overall size of the T cell pool.
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