Murine thymocytes proliferate in direct response to interleukin-7.
The ability of interleukin-7 (IL-7) to stimulate murine thymocyte proliferation was investigated. IL-7, either alone or in concert with lectin, induced proliferation of adult thymocytes as well as day 13 fetal and adult CD4-/CD8-thymocytes. The IL-7-induced proliferative response of unfractionated thymocytes could not be inhibited by antibodies to IL-2, or IL-4, IL-6, or the IL-2 receptor. In addition, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-6 were not produced by thymocytes activated with IL-7, as judged by the absence of biologically active cytokine in IL-7-stimulated culture supernatants. IL-7 could act in concert with IL-2 and IL-4 or with IL-4 to enhance the proliferative response of thymocyte cultures. Thus, IL-7 may cause proliferation of thymocytes directly, not indirectly, through production of IL-2, IL-4, or IL-6. IL-7 may then play a significant role in differentiation of T lymphocytes.
Conlon
P J
PJ
Immunex Corporation, Seattle, WA 98101.
Morrissey
P J
PJ
Nordan
R P
RP
Grabstein
K H
KH
Prickett
K S
KS
Reed
S G
SG
Goodwin
R
R
Cosman
D
D
Namen
A E
AE
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000494:pharmacology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D015847:Interleukin-4; D015850:Interleukin-6; D015851:Interleukin-7; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007106:Immune Sera; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D015851:Interleukin-7; D007378:Interleukins; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D015847:Interleukin-4