Soluble IL-7R alpha (sCD127) inhibits IL-7 activity and is increased in HIV infection

Soluble CD127 (sCD127) appears to play an important role in the immunopathogenesis of several chronic infections, multiple sclerosis, and various cancers. The function of sCD127 and whether it influences IL-7 bioavailability or activity is unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that recombinant and native sources of sCD127 significantly inhibited IL-7-mediated STAT5 and Akt phosphorylation in CD8(+) T cells. IL-7-mediated proliferation and Bcl-2 expression were similarly reduced by sCD127. In each case, native sCD127 inhibited IL-7 activity to a greater degree than rsCD127. Anti-IL-7 activity was inherent to human plasma and could be reversed by depletion of CD127, revealing for the first time the biological activity of naturally occurring sCD127. Plasma sCD127 concentrations were increased in HIV(+) individuals compared with HIV(-) controls, correlated with IL-7 levels, and remained unchanged in HIV(+) individuals following 1 y of effective antiretroviral therapy. Determining the regulation and function of sCD127 may be critical for understanding both the pathogenesis of diseases in which IL-7 likely has a role (e.g., HIV infection, cancer) and its potential impact on IL-7 as a therapeutic approach.