Bf. Bebo et al., Interleukin 7 is a potent Co-stimulator of myelin specific T cells that enhances the adoptive transfer of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, CYTOKINE, 12(4), 2000, pp. 324-331
Interleukin 7 (IL-7), originally described as a B cell growth factor, has r
ecently been found to play a critical role in T and B lymphocyte developmen
t and function. This study evaluated the effects of IL-7 on myelin specific
T cells. IL-7 strongly enhanced proliferation of proteolipid protein (PLP)
139-151 specific T cells in association with elevated secretion of the T c
ell growth factor IL-2. Co-stimulation with IL-7 preferentially increased t
he levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines secreted by PLP 139-151 specific T
cells and adoptive transfer of these cells into naive recipients induced a
profound enhancement of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an anima
l model for the human disease multiple sclerosis, These results suggest tha
t IL-7 may be a critical co-stimulatory. factor that enhances the extrathym
ic expansion of inflammatory T cells and may play an important role in the
pathogenesis of a number of inflammatory autoimmune disorders. (C) 2000 Aca
demic Press.