Sakata T, Iwagami S, Tsuruta Y, Teraoka H, Tatsumi Y, Kita Y, Nishikawa S, Takai Y, Fujiwara H
Shionogi Research Laboratories, Shionogi & Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan.
J Leukoc Biol. 1990 Sep;48(3):205-12. doi: 10.1002/jlb.48.3.205.
Mouse interleukin-7 (IL-7) cDNA was cloned from mouse thymic stromal cell clone MRL 104.8a using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique and expressed in COS-7 cells. The resulting recombinant interleukin-7 (rIL-7) supported the proliferation of mouse antigen-specific helper T cell (Th) clone 9-16 in the absence of IL-2 and antigen as well as mouse pre-B cell line DW34. It was also found that high levels of the mRNA for IL-7 were constitutively expressed in the MRL104.8a cells, and a potent amount of IL-7 was produced in its culture supernatant. These results provide the evidence for constitutive expression of IL-7 mRNA and for production of IL-7 by thymic stromal cells that have a critical role in intrathymic T cell development. The results are discussed in the context of the functional and molecular relationship between IL-7 and the previously described cytokines produced by thymic stromal cells.
