title: Differential effects of interleukin-7 and interleukin-2 on T-cell receptor gamma delta-expressing cells within CD4-CD8- postnatal human thymocytes.
abstract: Highly purified CD4-8- double-negative (DN) human thymocytes proliferated significantly more in response to interleukin (IL)-7 than to IL-2 in a dose-dependent fashion. Both IL-7 and IL-2 promoted the appearance of T-cell receptor (TCR) gamma delta-expressing cells in single cell suspension culture of DN thymocytes. While IL-7 exerted a vigorous growth-stimulating effect on TCR gamma delta-bearing DN thymocytes, IL-2 preferentially maintained the viability of gamma delta thymocytes without promoting their strong proliferation. In both instances, the major subset of gamma delta thymocytes expressed V delta 1 rather than V delta 2 as a variable delta-chain element on their surface. These results reveal differential effects of IL-7 and IL-2 on TCR gamma delta-bearing human thymocytes and underline the importance of both ILs in the development of DN thymocytes.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology, University of Heidelberg, FRG.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kabelitz
mesh_terms: D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002470:Cell Survival; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology*; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000276:immunology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D015851:Interleukin-7; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta