Harnessing the biology of IL-7 for therapeutic application

CL Mackall, TJ Fry, RE Gress - Nature Reviews Immunology, 2011 - nature.com
CL Mackall, TJ Fry, RE Gress
Nature Reviews Immunology, 2011nature.com
Abstract Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is required for T cell development and for maintaining and
restoring homeostasis of mature T cells. IL-7 is a limiting resource under normal conditions,
but it accumulates during lymphopaenia, leading to increased T cell proliferation. The
administration of recombinant human IL-7 to normal or lymphopenic mice, non-human
primates and humans results in widespread T cell proliferation, increased T cell numbers,
modulation of peripheral T cell subsets and increased T cell receptor repertoire diversity …
Abstract
Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is required for T cell development and for maintaining and restoring homeostasis of mature T cells. IL-7 is a limiting resource under normal conditions, but it accumulates during lymphopaenia, leading to increased T cell proliferation. The administration of recombinant human IL-7 to normal or lymphopenic mice, non-human primates and humans results in widespread T cell proliferation, increased T cell numbers, modulation of peripheral T cell subsets and increased T cell receptor repertoire diversity. These effects raise the prospect that IL-7 could mediate therapeutic benefits in several clinical settings. This Review summarizes the biology of IL-7 and the results of its clinical use that are available so far to provide a perspective on the opportunities for clinical application of this cytokine.
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