ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Interleukin-7 receptor (IL-7R) alpha-deficient mice have small numbers of B cells and alpha beta T cells in periphery, they totally lack gamma sigma T cells. In addition, the V-J recombination and transcription of TCRgamma genes is also severely impaired in IL-7Ralpha-deficient mice. Stat5, a signaling molecule of the IL-7R, induces germline transcription in the TCRgamma locus, and promotes V-J recombination and gamma sigma T cell development. However, the roles for IL-7R signaling pathway in thymic or extrathymic gamma sigma T cell development are largely unknown. METHODS: To clarify the role of the IL-7 receptor in proliferation and survival of gamma sigma T cells, we introduced the TCR gamma sigma transgene, Vgamma2/ Vsigma5, into IL-7Ralpha-deficient mice, and investigated the development of gamma sigma T cells. RESULTS: We found that Vgamma2/Vsigma5 transgene restored gamma sigma T cells in the epithelium of the small intestine (IEL) but not in the thymus and the spleen. Further addition of a bcl-2 transgene resulted in partial recovery of gamma sigma T cells in the thymus and the spleen of these mice. CONCLUSION: Taken together, this study revealed that the IL-7Ralpha is indispensable for proliferation and survival mainly in thymic gamma sigma T cell development.