title: Regulation of T cell proliferation by IL-7.
abstract: The regulation of murine T cell proliferation by IL-7 was investigated. Highly purified resting splenic T cells were induced to proliferate in a short term assay by IL-7 in the presence of the comitogen, Con A. The proliferation of these resting T cells showed both IL-2-dependent and -independent components as determined by the susceptibility of the response to the blocking effects of anti-IL-2 mAb. Furthermore, IL-7 was found to augment the Con A-induced production of IL-2 and expression of IL-2R by resting splenic T cells. In contrast, Con A blasts and long term, Ag-dependent cloned T cells proliferated in response to IL-7 independently of any involvement of IL-2. Finally, differences were observed between IL-7 and IL-6 with regard to the regulation of T cell growth and activation. As with IL-7, IL-6 stimulated resting splenic T cells to proliferate in the presence of comitogen. However, in contrast to IL-7, IL-6 failed to stimulate the proliferation of Con A blasts or T cell clones and did not augment the Con A-induced expression of IL-2R on resting T cells.
authors.affiliation: Immunex Corporation, Seattle, WA 98101.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Grabstein
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Namen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shanebeck
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Voice
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Widmer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000502:physiology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D015851:Interleukin-7; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D003208:Concanavalin A; D015847:Interleukin-4