Immune Netw.  2005 Mar;5(1):23-29. 10.4110/in.2005.5.1.23.

Interleukin-7 Receptor is Indispensable for Proliferation and Survival in Thymic gamma sigma T Cell Development

• Kim DH
• Yoon BH
• Jung JE
• Kim HS
• Ko SH
• Choi EY
• Lee KH
• Kim K
• Ye SK
• Chung MH

• KMID: 2150586
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4110/in.2005.5.1.23

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Interleukin-7 receptor (IL-7R) alpha-deficient mice have small numbers of B cells and alpha beta T cells in periphery, they totally lack gamma sigma T cells. In addition, the V-J recombination and transcription of TCRgamma genes is also severely impaired in IL-7Ralpha-deficient mice. Stat5, a signaling molecule of the IL-7R, induces germline transcription in the TCRgamma locus, and promotes V-J recombination and gamma sigma T cell development. However, the roles for IL-7R signaling pathway in thymic or extrathymic gamma sigma T cell development are largely unknown. METHODS: To clarify the role of the IL-7 receptor in proliferation and survival of gamma sigma T cells, we introduced the TCR gamma sigma transgene, Vgamma2/ Vsigma5, into IL-7Ralpha-deficient mice, and investigated the development of gamma sigma T cells. RESULTS: We found that Vgamma2/Vsigma5 transgene restored gamma sigma T cells in the epithelium of the small intestine (IEL) but not in the thymus and the spleen. Further addition of a bcl-2 transgene resulted in partial recovery of gamma sigma T cells in the thymus and the spleen of these mice. CONCLUSION: Taken together, this study revealed that the IL-7Ralpha is indispensable for proliferation and survival mainly in thymic gamma sigma T cell development.

Keyword

IL-7R; TCRgamma gene; Vgamma2/Vsigma5 transgenic mouse; thymu

MeSH Terms

Animals
B-Lymphocytes
Epithelium
Interleukin-7*
Intestine, Small
Mice
Receptors, Interleukin-7
Recombination, Genetic
Spleen
T-Lymphocytes
Thymus Gland
Transgenes
Interleukin-7
Receptors, Interleukin-7