| First Author | Shalapour S | Year | 2012 |
| Journal | PLoS One | Volume | 7 |
| Issue | 2 | Pages | e31939 |
| PubMed ID | 22384106 | Mgi Jnum | J:185300 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5428084 | Doi | 10.1371/journal.pone.0031939 |
| Citation | Shalapour S, et al. (2012) Interleukin-7 links T lymphocyte and intestinal epithelial cell homeostasis. PLoS One 7(2):e31939 |
| abstractText | Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is a major survival factor for mature T cells. Therefore, the degree of IL-7 availability determines the size of the peripheral T cell pool and regulates T cell homeostasis. Here we provide evidence that IL-7 also regulates the homeostasis of intestinal epithelial cells (IEC), colon function and the composition of the commensal microflora. In the colon of T cell-deficient, lymphopenic mice, IL-7-producing IEC accumulate. IEC hyperplasia can be blocked by IL-7-consuming T cells or the inactivation of the IL-7/IL-7R signaling pathway. However, the blockade of the IL-7/IL-7R signaling pathway renders T cell-deficient mice more sensitive to chemically-induced IEC damage and subsequent colitis. In summary, our data demonstrate that IL-7 promotes IEC hyperplasia under lymphopenic conditions. Under non-lymphopenic conditions, however, T cells consume IL-7 thereby limiting IEC expansion and survival. Hence, the degree of IL-7 availability regulates both, T cell and IEC homeostasis. |
