Diverse immunological and hematological effects of interleukin 7: implications for clinical application.
Interleukin-7 (IL-7) was originally discovered to be a pre-B cell growth factor. Soon thereafter, a broader role for IL-7 in leukocyte development and function began to be identified. IL-7 now has been shown to be a critical cytokine for normal T and B lymphopoiesis and a mobilizer of pluripotent stem cells and myeloid progenitors. IL-7 has been demonstrated to enhance T cell function and induce cytokine expression in monocytes. Preclinical studies have already found that IL-7 could accelerate murine lymphocyte regeneration following chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation, induce antitumor effects in mice, and expand anti-HIV-specific human T cells. Thus it is essential that further preclinical and clinical research be performed to evaluate IL-7 as a potential therapy for leukopenia, bone marrow/stem cell transplantation, cancer, and HIV/AIDS.
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000628:therapy; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006410:Hematopoiesis; D006801:Humans; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000502:physiology; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015851:Interleukin-7; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7