title: The murine T cell line CT6 provides a novel bioassay for interleukin-7.
abstract: Like interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-4, IL-7 can act as a growth factor for activated T lymphocytes. Upon screening a panel of growth factor-dependent T cell lines, we found that only the cell line CT6 responded to IL-7, indeed as vigorously as to IL-2. Obviously, these findings challenge the validity of previous results on IL-2 production obtained using the CT6 cell line. However, they also demonstrate a novel and sensitive system for the bioassay of IL-7. The ability of the surveyed T cell lines to proliferate to IL-7 corresponded with the expression of IL-7 receptors (IL-7R) on the cell surface. The murine IL-7R on CT6 was shown to bind IL-7 with dual affinity and was visualized as an affinity cross-linked complex of 93 kDa. This IL-7R appears similar to that seen on murine splenic T cells and on 70Z/3, the pre-B cell line from which the murine IL-7R was cloned.
authors.affiliation: Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Sunley Division, London.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Willcocks
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hales
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Page
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Foxwell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D002460:Cell Line; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism*; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D015851:Interleukin-7; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7