title: Inhibition of murine B and T lymphopoiesis in vivo by an anti-interleukin 7 monoclonal antibody.
abstract: The effects of interleukin 7 (IL-7) on the growth and differentiation of murine B cell progenitors has been well characterized using in vitro culture methods. We have investigated the role of IL-7 in vivo using a monoclonal antibody that neutralizes IL-7. We find that treatment of mice with this antibody completely inhibits the development of B cell progenitors from the pro-B cell stage forward. We also provide evidence that all peripheral B cells, including those of the B-1 and conventional lineages, are derived from IL-7-dependent precursors. The results are consistent with the rapid turnover of B cell progenitors in the marrow, but a slow turnover of mature B cells in the periphery. In addition to effects on B cell development, anti-IL-7 treatment substantially reduced thymus cellularity, affecting all major thymic subpopulations.
authors.affiliation: Immunex Research and Development Corporation, Seattle, Washington 98101.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Grabstein
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Waldschmidt
authors.forename: F D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Finkelman
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Alpert
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Boiani
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Namen
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Morrissey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000276:immunology; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006410:Hematopoiesis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D015851:Interleukin-7; C039951:anti-IgD; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens