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Interleukin 7 and T cell receptor signals regulate homeostasis of CD4 memory cells

Nature Immunology volume 4, pages 680–686 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Immunological memory depends on the long-term maintenance of memory T cells. Although the factors that maintain CD8 T cell memory are well understood, those responsible for CD4 memory are not well defined. We have shown here that interleukin 7 (IL-7) was an important survival factor for CD4 memory T cells that together with T cell receptor (TCR) signals regulated homeostasis of the CD4 memory population in lymphopenic conditions and in the intact immune system. Thus, IL-7 contributes to the maintenance of all naive and memory T cell subsets, and therefore controls the overall size of the T cell pool.

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Figure 1: Persistence of memory CD4 T cells in the absence of TCR signaling.
Figure 2: IL-7R signals promoted proliferation and survival of CD4+CD44hi cells in the absence of TCR signaling.
Figure 3: IL-7R signals were not required for the generation of CD4+CD44hi cells.
Figure 4: Proliferation but no accumulation of wild-type CD4+CD44hi T cells in the absence of IL-7.
Figure 5: Maintenance of CD4 memory in full mice by TCR signals and IL-7.

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Acknowledgements

We thank T. Norton, K. Williams and the Biological Services staff for assistance with mouse breeding and typing. We also thank B. Stockinger and G. Kassiotis, as well as other members of the Division of Molecular Immunology, for discussions. This work was supported by the Medical Research Council and the Leukaemia Research Fund, UK.

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  1. Division of Molecular Immunology, National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London, NW7 1AA, UK

    Benedict Seddon, Peter Tomlinson & Rose Zamoyska

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Correspondence to Rose Zamoyska.

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Seddon, B., Tomlinson, P. & Zamoyska, R. Interleukin 7 and T cell receptor signals regulate homeostasis of CD4 memory cells. Nat Immunol 4, 680–686 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/ni946

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