IL-7 is requisite for IL-1-induced thymocyte proliferation. Involvement of IL-7 in the synergistic effects of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor or tumor necrosis factor with IL-1.
In the absence of artificial comitogens murine thymocytes proliferate significantly in response to IL-1 at high but not at low cell densities. This observation has led us to examine a possible indirect mechanism requiring other thymocyte-growth factors, such as IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-7, in this phenomenon. Our data provide evidence that IL-7 is requisite for the IL-1-induced proliferative response because on the one hand the growth-promoting activity of IL-1 is completely inhibited by an anti-IL-7 mAb, and on the other hand IL-7 synergizes with IL-1 on thymocyte growth. This synergy is observed even at concentrations at which IL-7 is not detected in the pre-B cell proliferation assay, and results, at optimal doses, in TdR incorporation levels similar to those attained in response to IL-1 + IL-2. The anti-IL-7 mAb acts in a dose-dependent manner and does not affect other activities of IL-1, such as its capacity to sustain the growth of the U373 astrocytoma cell line. It is also noteworthy that this mAb does not significantly impair thymocyte growth in response to IL-2 and that the growth-promoting activity of IL-1 is not affected by neutralizing mAb against IL-2, IL-4, and IL-6. In addition, we show that the potentiating effect of granulocyte-macrophage (GM)-CSF and TNF-alpha on IL-1-induced thymocyte growth is dependent on IL-7 because i) the anti-IL-7 mAb abrogates the respective synergistic interactions and ii) both factors potentiate the proliferative response to IL-7. Finally, depletion of thymocyte suspensions for Ia+ Mac-1+ accessory cells results in a considerable decrease in IL-1- and IL-1 + GM-CSF-induced TdR uptake, whereas IL-7-induced growth remains unchanged. Taken together, these results support the notion that, in the absence of artificial comitogens, thymocyte proliferation in response to IL-1 alone or in combination with GM-CSF is dependent on accessory cell-derived IL-7.
Herbelin
A
A
INSERM U 25, Hôpital Necker, Paris, France.
Machavoine
F
F
Schneider
E
E
Papiernik
M
M
Dy
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000502:physiology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015851:Interleukin-7; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor