| First Author | Kang J | Year | 1999 |
| Journal | J Exp Med | Volume | 190 |
| Issue | 7 | Pages | 973-82 |
| PubMed ID | 10510087 | Mgi Jnum | J:57988 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:1346274 | Doi | 10.1084/jem.190.7.973 |
| Citation | Kang J, et al. (1999) Defective development of gamma/delta T cells in interleukin 7 receptor-deficient mice is due to impaired expression of T cell receptor gamma genes. J Exp Med 190(7):973-82 |
| abstractText | Mice lacking the interleukin 7 receptor (IL-7R) generate alpha/beta T cells at a detectable but greatly reduced rate, but gamma/delta T cells are completely absent. The special role of IL-7R signaling in gamma/delta T cell development has remained unclear. IL-7Ralpha(-/-) mice exhibit a paucity of gamma gene rearrangements. This striking observation can be explained by a defect in T cell receptor (TCR)-gamma gene rearrangement, a defect in TCR-gamma gene transcription leading to death of gamma/delta lineage cells, and/or a requirement for IL-7R in commitment of cells to the gamma/delta lineage. To determine the role of IL-7R signaling in gamma/delta T cell development, we examined transcription of a prerearranged TCR-gamma transgene in IL-7Ralpha(-/-) mice, as well as the effects of IL-7 on transcription of endogenous, rearranged TCR-gamma genes in alpha/beta lineage cells. The results demonstrate that IL-7R-mediated signals are necessary for the normal expression of rearranged TCR-gamma genes. Equally significant, the results show that the poor expression of TCR-gamma genes in IL-7Ralpha(-/-) mice is responsible for the selective deficit in gamma/delta cells in these mice, since a high copy TCR-gamma transgene exhibited sufficient residual expression in IL-7Ralpha(-/-) mice to drive gamma/delta cell development. The results indicate that the absence of gamma/delta T cells in IL-7Ralpha(-/-) mice is due to insufficient TCR-gamma gene expression. |
