title: Interleukin-7: Fuel for the autoimmune attack.
abstract: Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is a critical survival factor for lymphocytes and recent studies suggest targeting the IL-7/IL-7Rα pathway holds promise for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Several lines of evidence, genetic as well as functional, indicate an important role for this cytokine in autoimmune inflammation: polymorphisms in the IL-7Rα have been associated with increased risk for autoimmune disease and blocking IL-7/IL-7Rα with antibodies showed therapeutic efficacy in several autoimmune mouse models. Insights are starting to emerge about the mechanisms underlying IL-7's role in autoimmunity and tolerance, revealing surprising novel functions beyond its traditional activity as a T cell survival factor. In the first part of this review, the functions of IL-7 in the immune system are concisely described, providing a basis for understanding their potential role in promoting autoimmune responses. In the second part, current knowledge about the role of IL-7 in various autoimmune conditions is reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Arthritis Center/Rheumatology Section, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street, E519, Boston, MA 02118, USA. Electronic address: hdooms@bu.edu.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dooms
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019138:Antibodies, Blocking / Q000378:metabolism; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D015551:Autoimmunity; D002470:Cell Survival; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D019138:Antibodies, Blocking; D015851:Interleukin-7; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7; C415350:interleukin-7 receptor, alpha chain
keywords: Autoreactive T-cells; Interleukin-7