Association of the common gamma-chain with the human IL-7 receptor is modulated by T cell activation.
IL-7 acts on both resting and activated T cells. The functional IL-7R is reported to consist of two subunits, the ligand binding IL-7R and the common gamma-chain (gamma c chain), where IL-7R:gamma c chain association is driven solely by ligand binding. However, we now demonstrate that in primary T cells this event is also controlled by cellular activation. We show that IL-7R:gamma c chain complexes are detected in activated, but not in resting, T cells despite similar levels of gamma c chain expression, implying that the gamma c chain is not associated with the IL-7R in unstimulated T cells. Furthermore, IL-7R:gamma c chain association correlates with the expression of JAK-3 in T cells, but not in transfected COS-7 cells. The finding that IL-7R:gamma c chain assembly is controlled at a level beyond that of receptor expression has important implications for the control of cytokine function in T cells.
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T H
TH
Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Sunley Division, Hammersmith, London, United Kingdom.
Lali
F V
FV
Groome
N
N
Foxwell
B M
BM
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006801:Humans; D015851:Interleukin-7; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000502:physiology*; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000032:analysis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015851:Interleukin-7; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin