title: Visualization and identification of IL-7 producing cells in reporter mice.
abstract: Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is required for lymphocyte development and homeostasis although the actual sites of IL-7 production have never been clearly identified. We produced a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) transgenic mouse expressing ECFP in the Il7 locus. The construct lacked a signal peptide and ECFP (enhanced cyan fluorescent protein) accumulated inside IL-7-producing stromal cells in thoracic thymus, cervical thymus and bone marrow. In thymus, an extensive reticular network of IL-7-containing processes extended from cortical and medullary epithelial cells, closely contacting thymocytes. Central memory CD8 T cells, which require IL-7 and home to bone marrow, physically associated with IL-7-producing cells as we demonstrate by intravital imaging.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Immunoregulation, Cancer and Inflammation Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Frederick, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Renata I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Mazzucchelli
authors.forename: Søren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Warming
authors.forename: Scott M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: Mehrnoosh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abshari
authors.forename: A Valance
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Washington
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Feigenbaum
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Warner
authors.forename: Davis J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Sims
authors.forename: Wen Qing
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hixon
authors.forename: Daniel H D
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Benjamin E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Rich
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morrow
authors.forename: Miriam R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Anver
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cherry
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Naf
authors.forename: Lawrence R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Sternberg
authors.forename: Daniel W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: McVicar
authors.forename: Andrew G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Farr
authors.forename: Ronald N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Germain
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: Nancy A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: Neal G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Copeland
authors.forename: Scott K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Durum
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D002469:Cell Separation; D022202:Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C485182:Cyan Fluorescent Protein; D015851:Interleukin-7; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins