title: Mechanism of Action of IL-7 and Its Potential Applications and Limitations in Cancer Immunotherapy.
abstract: Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is a non-hematopoietic cell-derived cytokine with a central role in the adaptive immune system. It promotes lymphocyte development in the thymus and maintains survival of naive and memory T cell homeostasis in the periphery. Moreover, it is important for the organogenesis of lymph nodes (LN) and for the maintenance of activated T cells recruited into the secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs). The immune capacity of cancer patients is suppressed that is characterized by lower T cell counts, less effector immune cells infiltration, higher levels of exhausted effector cells and higher levels of immunosuppressive cytokines, such as transforming growth factor β (TGF-β). Recombinant human IL-7 (rhIL-7) is an ideal solution for the immune reconstitution of lymphopenia patients by promoting peripheral T cell expansion. Furthermore, it can antagonize the immunosuppressive network. In animal models, IL-7 has been proven to prolong the survival of tumor-bearing hosts. In this review, we will focus on the mechanism of action and applications of IL-7 in cancer immunotherapy and the potential restrictions for its usage.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cancer, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China. nwgjb@163.com.
authors.forename: Jianbao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cancer, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China. chaoren72@126.com.
authors.forename: Lintao
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. wany@email.unc.edu.
authors.forename: Yisong Y
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cancer, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China. b.davis.zhu@gmail.com.|Biomedical Analysis Center, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China. b.davis.zhu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015851:Interleukin-7