Interleukin 7-induced expression of specific T cell receptor gamma variable region genes in murine fetal liver cultures.
We previously reported that culture of murine fetal liver (FL) cells with interleukin 7 (IL-7) results in expression of high levels of T cell receptor (TCR) gamma transcripts by a population of cells expressing Thy-1 and Pgp-1, suggesting that IL-7 promotes the growth and/or differentiation of pre-T cells. We demonstrate herein that culture of FL cells for 7 d with IL-7 caused the rearrangement and expression of TCR gamma variable (V) region genes V gamma 4 and V gamma 6, but not V gamma 5 or V gamma 7. Since this effect was not blocked by hydroxyurea, it appeared to represent induction of expression of these genes by IL-7 rather than expansion of a preexisting positive population. We also show that IL-7 induced RAG-1 and RAG-2 mRNA expression by FL cells. These data provide evidence that specific TCR gamma/delta V region genes can be rearranged and expressed by T lineage cells before their migration to the thymus, in response to IL-7.
Appasamy
P M
PM
Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pennsylvania 15213.
Kenniston
T W
TW
Weng
Y
Y
Holt
E C
EC
Kost
J
J
Chambers
W H
WH
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D015334:Gene Rearrangement, gamma-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor / Q000187:drug effects*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000196:embryology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000235:genetics*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*
D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D015851:Interleukin-7; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C499308:Rag2 protein, mouse; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; C064655:V(D)J recombination activating protein 2; C064658:RAG-1 protein