The earliest step in B lineage differentiation from common lymphoid progenitors is critically dependent upon interleukin 7.
Little is known about the signals that promote early B lineage differentiation from common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs). Using a stromal-free culture system, we show that interleukin (IL)-7 is sufficient to promote the in vitro differentiation of CLPs into B220(+) CD19(+) B lineage progenitors. Consistent with current models of early B cell development, surface expression of B220 was initiated before CD19 and was accompanied by the loss of T lineage potential. To address whether IL-7 receptor (R) activity is essential for early B lineage development in vivo, we examined the frequencies of CLPs and downstream pre-pro- and pro-B cells in adult mice lacking either the alpha chain or the common gamma chain (gamma(c)) of the IL-7R. The data indicate that although gamma(c)(-/-) mice have normal frequencies of CLPs, both gamma(c)(-/-) and IL-7R(alpha)(-/-) mice lack detectable numbers of all downstream early B lineage precursors, including pre-pro-B cells. These findings challenge previous notions regarding the point in B cell development affected by the loss of IL-7R signaling and suggest that IL-7 plays a key and requisite role during the earliest phases of B cell development.
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Juli P
JP
Miller
David
D
Izon
William
W
DeMuth
Rachel
R
Gerstein
Avinash
A
Bhandoola
David
D
Allman
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000187:drug effects; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7 / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
D015851:Interleukin-7; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7; C415350:interleukin-7 receptor, alpha chain