title: Thymic stromal-derived lymphopoietin distinguishes fetal from adult B cell development.
abstract: Deletions of interleukin 7 (IL-7) or its receptor components permit fetal but not adult B cell development in mice. Mice deficient in IL-7 receptor alpha (IL-7R alpha) had 1% the number of B cells of controls and 10% that of mice deficient in the common gamma chain. As IL-7R alpha is also a receptor for thymic stromal-derived lymphopoietin (TSLP), we assayed the ability of TSLP to support proliferation of fetal or adult precursor B cells. Only fetal-derived pro-B cells were able to respond to TSLP, although pre-B cells from both origins were TSLP-responsive. Fetal but not adult precursors generated a measurable B cell compartment in the absence of IL-7. The residual B cells found in IL-7R alpha-deficient mice required fetal liver kinase 2 (Flk-2) for their development. Thus, IL-7R alpha- and Flk-2-mediated signals account for the generation of almost all mouse B lymphocytes.
authors.affiliation: Unité des Cytokines et Développement Lymphoïde, INSERM Equipe, 101 Institut Pasteur, 75724 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Christian A J
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Vosshenrich
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cumano
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Di Santo
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vieira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D055316:Cystatin C; D015891:Cystatins / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7 / Q000378:metabolism; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D000094632:Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin
chemical_list: C525031:Cst3 protein, mouse; D055316:Cystatin C; D015891:Cystatins; D016207:Cytokines; D015851:Interleukin-7; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7; D000094632:Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin; C000721967:TSLP protein, mouse