Interleukin-7 Receptor is Indispensable for Proliferation and Survival in Thymic γδT Cell Development

• Published in: Immune network Vol. 5; no. 1; pp. 23 - 29
• Main Authors: Kim, Dong-Hyun, Yoon, Byung-Hak, Jung, Joo-Eun, Kim, Hoog-Sook, Ko, Seong-Hee, Choi, Eun-Young, Lee, Kwang-Ho, Kim, Kyung-Jae, Ye, Sang-Kyu, Chung, Myung-Hee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 대한면역학회 2005
• Subjects: 면역학; 5< thymus; IL-7R; TCR γ gene; γ2< sub> Vδ< transgenic mouse; V&lt
• ISSN: 1598-2629; 2092-6685
• DOI: 10.4110/in.2005.5.1.23

Background: Interleukin-7 receptor (IL-7R) α-deficient mice have small numbers of B cells and αβT cells in periphery, they totally lack γδT cells. In addition, the V-J recombination and transcription of TCRγ genes is also severely impaired in IL-7Rα-deficient mice. Stat5, a signaling molecule of the IL-7R, induces germline transcription in the TCRγ locus, and promotes V-J recombination and γδT cell development. However, the roles for IL-7R signaling pathway in thymic or extrathymic γδT cell development are largely unknown. Methods: To clarify the role of the IL-7 receptor in proliferation and survival of γδT cells, we introduced the TCR γδ transgene, Vγ2/ Vδ5, into IL-7Rα-deficient mice, and investigated the development of γδT cells. Results: We found that Vγ2/Vδ5 transgene restored γδT cells in the epithelium of the small intestine (IEL) but not in the thymus and the spleen. Further addition of a bcl-2 transgene resulted in partial recovery of γδT cells in the thymus and the spleen of these mice. Conclusion: Taken together, this study revealed that the IL-7Rα is indispensable for proliferation and survival mainly in thymic γδT cell development. KCI Citation Count: 0