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Updated: Feb 13, 2026

A Suction Blister Protocol to Study Human T-cell Recall Responses In Vivo
Published on: August 11, 2018
Interleukin-7 Unveils Pathogen-Specific T Cells by Enhancing Antigen-Recall Responses
Nadia Terrazzini1, Paola Mantegani2, Florian Kern3
1School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, United Kingdom.
Background:
Interleukin (IL)-7 promotes the generation, expansion, and survival of memory T cells. Previous mouse and human studies showed that IL-7 can support immune cell reconstitution in lymphopenic conditions, expand tumor-reactive T cells for adoptive immunotherapy, and enhance effector cytokine expression by autoreactive T cells. Whether pathogen-reactive T cells also benefit from IL-7 exposure remains unknown.
Methods:
In this study, we investigated this issue in cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) derived from patients infected with various endemic pathogens. After short-term exposure to IL-7, we measured PBMC responses to antigens derived from pathogens, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Candida albicans, and cytomegalovirus, and to the superantigen Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B.
Results:
We found that IL-7 favored the expansion and, in some instances, the uncovering of pathogen-reactive CD4 T cells, by promoting pathogen-specific interferon-γ, IL-2, and tumor necrosis factor recall responses.
Conclusions:
Our findings indicate that IL-7 unveils and supports reactivation of pathogen-specific T cells with possible diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic significance of clinical value, especially in conditions of pathogen persistence and chronic infection.
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