Visualization and identification of IL-7 producing cells in reporter mice.
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.
Mazzucchelli
Renata I
RI
Laboratory of Molecular Immunoregulation, Cancer and Inflammation Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Frederick, MD, USA.
Warming
Søren
S
Lawrence
Scott M
SM
Ishii
Masaru
M
Abshari
Mehrnoosh
M
Washington
A Valance
AV
Feigenbaum
Lionel
L
Warner
Andrew C
AC
Sims
Davis J
DJ
Li
Wen Qing
WQ
Hixon
Julie A
JA
Gray
Daniel H D
DH
Rich
Benjamin E
BE
Morrow
Matthew
M
Anver
Miriam R
MR
Cherry
James
J
Naf
Dieter
D
Sternberg
Lawrence R
LR
McVicar
Daniel W
DW
Farr
Andrew G
AG
Germain
Ronald N
RN
Rogers
Keith
K
Jenkins
Nancy A
NA
Copeland
Neal G
NG
Durum
Scott K
SK
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
C485182:Cyan Fluorescent Protein; D015851:Interleukin-7; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins