title: IL-7 modulates osteoclastogenesis in patients affected by solid tumors.
abstract: High levels of interleukin-7 (IL-7) have been associated with bone loss due to its stimulatory osteoclastogenic activity. Osteolytic patients' peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) differentiate into osteoclasts without adding stimulating factors. Now, we investigated the potential role of IL-7 in the spontaneous osteoclastogenesis occurring in these patients. We identified significant differences in serum IL-7 levels between patients with/without bone metastases, suggesting that IL-7 might be effective as a clinical marker of disease progression. In patients' PBMC cultures we demonstrated that IL-7 stimulates osteoclastogenesis by inducing TNF-alpha release by T and B cells. These findings add further details to the disclosure of the mechanisms controlling bone metastases in solid tumors.
authors.affiliation: Center for Experimental Research and Medical Studies, University and A.S.O. San Giovanni Battista, Turin, Italy. roato78@libero.it
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Roato
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gorassini
authors.forename: Giacomina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brunetti
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grano
authors.forename: Libero
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ciuffreda
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mussa
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferracini
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015851:Interleukin-7; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha