Biomaterial Database

Interleukin-7 (IL-7) knockout mice. Implications for lymphopoiesis and organ-specific immunity. 1998

M J Maeurer, and M T Lotze

Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Mainz, FRG. maeurer@omalley.zdv.uni-mainz.de

Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is produced by both immune and non-immune cells including stromal cell lines, B-cells, monocytes/macrophages, follicular dendritic cells, keratinocytes, and gut epithelial cells. The development of IL-7 knockout mice aided to elucidate the role of this multifaceted cytokine in lymphopoiesis. Additionally, IL-7 gene-deleted mice may represent an excellent model in order to define the functional role of locally secreted IL-7 in organ-specific immunity and in anti-microbial responses as well. For instance, analysis of IL-7 gene-deleted mice revealed reduced numbers of total T-lymphocytes with preservation of the CD4/CD8 ratio and increased ratio of alpha beta + T-cells compared to gamma delta + T-cells. Transition of pro-T-cells to pre-T-cells was impaired. Cell marker analysis of thymocytes in IL-7 -/- mice suggested that IL-7 may induce expression of as yet unidentified cytokine receptors, and that IL-7 may also be critically involved in T-cell differentiation. However, there are clear differences in the requirements of alpha beta or gamma delta T-cells for IL-7. In general, IL-7 appears to serve as the major growth and differentiation factor for gamma delta T-cells. IL-7 -/- mice are characterized by a block of maturation of V gamma 3low, CD24+ T-cells to V gamma 3high, CD24low T-cells. Thus, IL-7 does not only represent a 'maintenance factor', but rather a cytokine required for successful thymic and extrathymic development and maturation of gamma delta T-cells. gamma delta + intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (iIEL) are absent in IL-7 -/- animals. In contrast, alpha beta + iIEL can be detected in IL-7 gene-deleted animals, but not in gamma c, or in JAK-3 deficient mice suggesting that alternative cytokines may be involved in development of iIEL alpha beta + T-cells, but not necessarily for gamma delta T-cells. To this end, IL-7 has predominantly been studied in the context of B- and T-cell development. With the availability of IL-7 gene-deleted mice, the paracrine effects of IL-7, which may be secreted in vivo by non-immune cells including keratinocytes or gut epithelial cells, can now be critically examined.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009928	Organ Specificity	Characteristic restricted to a particular organ of the body, such as a cell type, metabolic response or expression of a particular protein or antigen.	Tissue Specificity,Organ Specificities,Specificities, Organ,Specificities, Tissue,Specificity, Organ,Specificity, Tissue,Tissue Specificities
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001402	B-Lymphocytes	Lymphoid cells concerned with humoral immunity. They are short-lived cells resembling bursa-derived lymphocytes of birds in their production of immunoglobulin upon appropriate stimulation.	B-Cells, Lymphocyte,B-Lymphocyte,Bursa-Dependent Lymphocytes,B Cells, Lymphocyte,B Lymphocyte,B Lymphocytes,B-Cell, Lymphocyte,Bursa Dependent Lymphocytes,Bursa-Dependent Lymphocyte,Lymphocyte B-Cell,Lymphocyte B-Cells,Lymphocyte, Bursa-Dependent,Lymphocytes, Bursa-Dependent
D013601	T-Lymphocytes	Lymphocytes responsible for cell-mediated immunity. Two types have been identified - cytotoxic (T-LYMPHOCYTES, CYTOTOXIC) and helper T-lymphocytes (T-LYMPHOCYTES, HELPER-INDUCER). They are formed when lymphocytes circulate through the THYMUS GLAND and differentiate to thymocytes. When exposed to an antigen, they divide rapidly and produce large numbers of new T cells sensitized to that antigen.	T Cell,T Lymphocyte,T-Cells,Thymus-Dependent Lymphocytes,Cell, T,Cells, T,Lymphocyte, T,Lymphocyte, Thymus-Dependent,Lymphocytes, T,Lymphocytes, Thymus-Dependent,T Cells,T Lymphocytes,T-Cell,T-Lymphocyte,Thymus Dependent Lymphocytes,Thymus-Dependent Lymphocyte
D015851	Interleukin-7	A cytokine produced by bone marrow stromal cells that promotes the growth of B-LYMPHOCYTE precursors and is co-mitogenic with INTERLEUKIN-2 for mature T-LYMPHOCYTE activation.	IL-7,IL7,Lymphopoietin-1,Interleukin 7,Lymphopoietin 1
D051379	Mice	The common name for the genus Mus.	Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus
D018345	Mice, Knockout	Strains of mice in which certain GENES of their GENOMES have been disrupted, or "knocked-out". To produce knockouts, using RECOMBINANT DNA technology, the normal DNA sequence of the gene being studied is altered to prevent synthesis of a normal gene product. Cloned cells in which this DNA alteration is successful are then injected into mouse EMBRYOS to produce chimeric mice. The chimeric mice are then bred to yield a strain in which all the cells of the mouse contain the disrupted gene. Knockout mice are used as EXPERIMENTAL ANIMAL MODELS for diseases (DISEASE MODELS, ANIMAL) and to clarify the functions of the genes.	Knockout Mice,Mice, Knock-out,Mouse, Knockout,Knock-out Mice,Knockout Mouse,Mice, Knock out
D019891	Leukopoiesis	The process of generating white blood cells (LEUKOCYTES) from the pluripotent HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELLS of the BONE MARROW. There are two significant pathways to generate various types of leukocytes: MYELOPOIESIS, in which leukocytes in the blood are derived from MYELOID STEM CELLS, and LYMPHOPOIESIS, in which leukocytes of the lymphatic system (LYMPHOCYTES) are generated from lymphoid stem cells.