| First Author | Kikuchi K | Year | 2008 |
| Journal | J Immunol | Volume | 181 |
| Issue | 1 | Pages | 383-92 |
| PubMed ID | 18566404 | Mgi Jnum | J:137403 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3799433 | Doi | 10.4049/jimmunol.181.1.383 |
| Citation | Kikuchi K, et al. (2008) IL-7 specifies B cell fate at the common lymphoid progenitor to pre-proB transition stage by maintaining early B cell factor expression. J Immunol 181(1):383-92 |
| abstractText | IL-7 plays a critical role in B cell fate decision by regulating early B cell factor (EBF) expression. However, it was not clear when IL-7 stimulation is necessary in hemato-/lymphopoiesis in adult mice. Here we show that pre-proB cells derived from IL-7-/- mice have lost B cell potential, despite up-regulation of EBF expression following IL-7 stimulation. Pre-proB cells from wild-type mice can give rise to proB cells in the absence of IL-7. In this case, EBF up-regulation during the transition from the pre-proB to proB stages occurs normally. In contrast, EBF expression by IL-7-/- pre-proB cells after IL-7 stimulation is approximately 20 times lower than wild-type pre-proB cells. In addition, only multipotent progenitors with higher levels of ectopic EBF can give rise to proB cells in the absence of IL-7. Therefore, the primary function of IL-7 before the pre-proB stage in B cell development is to maintain the EBF expression level above a certain threshold, which is necessary for pre-proB cells to further transit to the proB stage. |
