Signaling thresholds govern heterogeneity in IL-7-receptor-mediated responses of naive CD8(+) T cells.

ABSTRACT: Variable sensitivity to T-cell-receptor (TCR)- and IL-7-receptor (IL-7R)-mediated homeostatic signals among naïve T cells has thus far been largely attributed to differences in TCR specificity. We show here that even when withdrawn from self-peptide-induced TCR stimulation, CD8(+) T cells exhibit heterogeneous responses to interleukin-7 (IL-7) that are mechanistically associated with IL-7R expression differences that correlate with relative CD5 expression. Whereas CD5(hi) and CD5(lo) T cells survive equivalently in the presence of saturating IL-7 levels in vitro, CD5(hi) T cells proliferate more robustly. Conversely, CD5(lo) T cells exhibit prolonged survival when withdrawn from homeostatic stimuli. Through quantitative experimental analysis of signaling downstream of IL-7R, we find that t

SUBMITTER: Palmer MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3342499 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature