title: Interlinking interleukin-7.
abstract: The signaling processes that maintain the homeostatic proliferation of peripheral T-cells and result in their self-renewal largely remain to be elucidated. Much focus has been placed on the anti-apoptotic function of the cytokine, interleukin-7 (IL-7), during T-cell development. But a more critical role has been ascribed to IL-7 as a mediator of peripheral T-cell maintenance. The biological effects responsive to IL-7 signaling are transduced through only a few well-known pathways. In this review we will focus on the signals transduced by IL-7 and similar cytokines, examining how proliferative signals originate from cytokine receptors, are amplified and eventually alter gene expression. In this regard we will highlight the crosstalk between pathways that promote survival, drive cell cycle progression and most importantly provide the needed energy to sustain these critical cellular activities. Though this review showcases much of what has been learned about IL-7 proliferative signaling, it also reveals the significant gaps in our knowledge about cytokine signaling in the very relevant context of peripheral T-cell homeostasis.
authors.affiliation: Biomolecular Science Center, University of Central Florida, 12722 Research Parkway, Orlando, FL 32826, USA.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kittipatarin
authors.forename: Annette R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Khaled
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D048429:Cell Size; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 / Q000502:physiology; D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1 / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000502:physiology*; D053612:Janus Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000502:physiology; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7 / Q000502:physiology; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D020687:cdc25 Phosphatases / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1; D015851:Interleukin-7; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D053612:Janus Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D020687:cdc25 Phosphatases