Interleukin-7 (IL-7)

Author: V. Dimov, M.D., Allergist/Immunologist and Assistant Professor at University of Chicago
Reviewer: S. Randhawa, M.D., Allergist/Immunologist and Assistant Professor at LSU (Shreveport) Department of Allergy and Immunology

IL-7 is a Type I family cytokine secreted by stromal cells in many tissues.

IL-7 stimulates survival and expansion of immature precursors committed to the B and T lymphocyte lineages.

IL-7 receptor consists of α chain associated with the γc chain (part of the receptors for IL-2, IL-4, and IL-15)

γc mutations lead to X-linked SCID. Receptors for IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15, and IL-21 contain γ chain, which is affected in X-linked

SCID.

Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) - 4 groups according to T/B/NK cells (click to enlarge the image).

Lack of a signal through which cytokine receptor accounts for the lack of T cell maturation in X-linked SCID?

A. IL-2

B. IL-7

C. IL-9

D. IL-15

E. IL-5

Answer: B.

References

Pending.

Published: 04/09/2010
Updated: 09/09/2010