title: Interleukin-7 receptor expression: intelligent design.
abstract: Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is produced by stromal cells in lymphoid tissues and is required for the development of T cells and for their persistence in the periphery. Unlike many other cytokines that act on lymphocytes, IL-7 production by stromal cells is not substantially affected by extrinsic stimuli. So, the amount of available IL-7 protein is thought to be regulated by the rate that it is scavenged by T cells. As we review here, there is mounting evidence indicating that the amount of IL-7 receptor expressed on a cell not only determines how vigorously the cell responds to IL-7, but it can also determine how efficiently the cell consumes IL-7 and, therefore, affect the supply of this limiting resource in the niche.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Immunoregulation, Cancer and Inflammation Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Building 560, Room 31-71, Frederick, Maryland 21702-1201, USA.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mazzucchelli
authors.forename: Scott K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Durum
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015851:Interleukin-7; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7; C415350:interleukin-7 receptor, alpha chain