| First Author | Lawson BR | Year | 2015 |
| Journal | Clin Immunol | Volume | 161 |
| Issue | 2 | Pages | 260-9 |
| PubMed ID | 26319414 | Mgi Jnum | J:319188 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:6863076 | Doi | 10.1016/j.clim.2015.08.007 |
| Citation | Lawson BR, et al. (2015) Interleukin-7 is required for CD4(+) T cell activation and autoimmune neuroinflammation. Clin Immunol 161(2):260-9 |
| abstractText | IL-7 is known to be vital for T cell homeostasis but has previously been presumed to be dispensable for TCR-induced activation. Here, we show that IL-7 is critical for the initial activation of CD4(+) T cells in that it provides some of the necessary early signaling components, such as activated STAT5 and Akt. Accordingly, short-term in vivo IL-7Ralpha blockade inhibited the activation and expansion of autoantigen-specific CD4(+) T cells and, when used to treat experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), prevented and ameliorated disease. Our studies demonstrate that IL-7 signaling is a prerequisite for optimal CD4(+) T cell activation and that IL-7R antagonism may be effective in treating CD4(+) T cell-mediated neuroinflammation and other autoimmune inflammatory conditions. |
