Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Isolation and Th17 Differentiation of Naïve CD4 T Lymphocytes
Published on: September 26, 2013
Role of interleukin-7 in bone and T-cell homeostasis
Sun-Kyeong Lee1, Charles D Surh
1University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 0630-1850, USA. slee@neuron.uchc.edu
Abstract:
Initially defined as a B-cell growth factor, the pleiotropic nature of interleukin-7 (IL-7) has increasingly become appreciated. Besides its well-known roles in B- and T-cell lymphopoiesis, IL-7 is now known to regulate the homeostasis of both mature T cells and bone cells. In bone, the precise nature of how IL-7 affects osteoclasts and osteoblasts is controversial, since it has a variety of actions in different target cells. These activities are gender-specific and are dependent on whether IL-7 is delivered systemically or locally. In mature T cells, IL-7 is essential for the survival of nearly all subsets. Naïve T cells are also dependent on IL-7 for survival and homeostatic proliferation in response to lymphopenia. In addition, IL-7 plays a role in the survival of memory CD8+ cells, and at high concentrations, it can compensate for the absence of IL-15. The role of IL-7 on memory CD4+ cells remains controversial and has yet to be firmly established.
Related Concept Videos
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Regulation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Role of Hematopoietic Growth Factors
Thrombopoietin (TPO), mainly released by the liver,...
Inflammatory Response
Inflammation can be triggered by various stimuli, such as impact, abrasion, chemical irritation, infections, and extreme hot or cold temperatures. These can damage cells and connective tissue fibers,...
T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway