[HTML][HTML] IL-7 enhances peripheral T cell reconstitution after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Ö Alpdogan, SJ Muriglan, JM Eng… - The Journal of …, 2003 - Am Soc Clin Investig
Ö Alpdogan, SJ Muriglan, JM Eng, LM Willis, AS Greenberg, BJ Kappel, MRM van den Brink
The Journal of clinical investigation, 2003Am Soc Clin Investig
We used clinically relevant murine allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) models to
study the mechanisms by which IL-7 administration can improve posttransplant peripheral T
cell reconstitution. After transplant we could distinguish two populations of mature donor T
cells:(a) alloreactive T cells with decreased expression of CD127 (IL-7 receptor α chain) and
(b) nonalloreactive T cells, which express CD127 and undergo homeostatic proliferation. IL-
7 administration increased the homeostatic proliferation of nonalloreactive T cells, but had …
We used clinically relevant murine allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) models to study the mechanisms by which IL-7 administration can improve posttransplant peripheral T cell reconstitution. After transplant we could distinguish two populations of mature donor T cells: (a) alloreactive T cells with decreased expression of CD127 (IL-7 receptor α chain) and (b) nonalloreactive T cells, which express CD127 and undergo homeostatic proliferation. IL-7 administration increased the homeostatic proliferation of nonalloreactive T cells, but had no effect on alloreactive T cells and the development of graft-versus-host disease. Allogeneic transplant of purified hematopoietic stem cells and adoptive transfer of thymocytes into lethally irradiated hosts suggested that recent thymic emigrants can undergo homeostatic proliferation and acquire a memory-like phenotype. We found by BrdU pulse-chase, cell cycle, and annexin V analyses that IL-7 administration has significant proliferative and antiapoptotic effects on posttransplant peripheral T cells. We conclude that homeostatic expansion is important for T cell reconstitution after allogeneic BMT and involves both transferred mature T cells and recent thymic emigrants. Apart from its thymopoietic effects, IL-7 promotes peripheral T cell reconstitution through its selective proliferative and antiapoptotic effects on nonalloreactive and de novo–generated T cells, but has no effect on alloreactive T cells.
The Journal of Clinical Investigation