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Interleukin 7 signaling in dendritic cells regulates the homeostatic proliferation and niche size of CD4(+) T cells NATURE IMMUNOLOGY Guimond, M., Veenstra, R. G., Grindler, D. J., Zhang, H., Cui, Y., Murphy, R. D., Kim, S. Y., Na, R., Hennighausen, L., Kurtulus, S., Erman, B., Matzinger, P., Merchant, M. S., Mackall, C. L. 2009; 10 (2): 149-157

Abstract

Interleukin 7 (IL-7) and T cell antigen receptor signals have been proposed to be the main drivers of homeostatic T cell proliferation. However, it is not known why CD4(+) T cells undergo less-efficient homeostatic proliferation than CD8(+) T cells do. Here we show that systemic IL-7 concentrations increased during lymphopenia because of diminished use of IL-7 but that IL-7 signaling on IL-7 receptor-alpha-positive (IL-7Ralpha(+)) dendritic cells (DCs) in lymphopenic settings paradoxically diminished the homeostatic proliferation of CD4(+) T cells. This effect was mediated at least in part by IL-7-mediated downregulation of the expression of major histocompatibility complex class II on IL-7Ralpha(+) DCs. Our results indicate that IL-7Ralpha(+) DCs are regulators of the peripheral CD4(+) T cell niche and that IL-7 signals in DCs prevent uncontrolled CD4(+) T cell population expansion in vivo.

View details for DOI 10.1038/ni.1695

View details for Web of Science ID 000263178500008

View details for PubMedID 19136960