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Encyclopedia of Signaling Molecules pp 2570–2579Cite as

IL7

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Synonyms

Interleukin-7

Historical Background

Interleukin (IL)-7 is a secreted soluble globular protein 25 kDa in size encoded by the IL7 gene. It was first identified as a growth factor for murine B cell precursors found in the bone marrow. Other researchers found that mRNA encoding IL-7 was enriched in the thymus, the lymphoid organ in which T cells are made. Addition of recombinant IL-7 to in vitro cultures was found to promote survival and growth of thymocytes, the cells from the thymus that ultimately develop into mature T lymphocytes. These early experiments suggested that IL-7 was important for development of normal T lymphocytes in the thymus and B lymphocytes in bone marrow. The generation of genetically modified “knockout” mice, in which the IL-7 gene was specifically disrupted, ultimately confirmed these views (von Freeden-Jeffry et al. 1995). While these IL-7-deficient mice were grossly normal in appearance, the suggested importance of IL-7 for lymphocyte development was...

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, Royal Free Hospital, Rowland Hill Street, London, NW3 2PF, UK

    Benedict Seddon

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  1. Benedict Seddon
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Correspondence to Benedict Seddon .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, Korea

    Sangdun Choi

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Seddon, B. (2018). IL7. In: Choi, S. (eds) Encyclopedia of Signaling Molecules. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-67199-4_40

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