IL-7 signaling and CD127 receptor regulation in the control of T cell homeostasis

Semin Immunol. 2012 Jun;24(3):209-17. doi: 10.1016/j.smim.2012.04.010. Epub 2012 May 1.

Abstract

After their development in the thymus, mature T cells are maintained in the periphery by two sets of survival signals, namely TCR signals from contact with self-peptide/MHC ligands and the cytokine receptor signals from binding IL-7 and IL-15. These signals cooperate to maximize the utility of finite resources to support a diverse pool of mature T cells. It is becoming increasingly clear that multiple mechanisms exist to regulate expression of IL-7R at the transcriptional and post-translational levels. The interplay between TCR signals and IL-7R signals are also important in regulation of IL-7R expression. This review will focus on regulation of T cell homeostasis by IL-7R signaling, with an emphasis on the cross talk between signals from TCR and IL-7R.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Homeostasis*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-7 / immunology*
  • Interleukin-7 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-7 Receptor alpha Subunit / immunology*
  • Interleukin-7 Receptor alpha Subunit / metabolism
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology
  • Signal Transduction*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism

Substances

  • Interleukin-7
  • Interleukin-7 Receptor alpha Subunit
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell