biostudies-literatureLee LFNINDS NIH HHS93ra68https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC3739690biostudies-literatureUnknown3(93)The interleukin-7 receptor α chain (IL-7Rα) gene was identified as a top non-major histocompatibility complex-linked risk locus for multiple sclerosis (MS). Recently, we showed that a T helper 1 (T(H)1)-driven, but not a T(H)17-driven, form of MS exhibited a good clinical response to interferon-β (IFN-β) therapy. We now demonstrate that high serum levels of IL-7, particularly when paired with low levels of IL-17F, predict responsiveness to IFN-β and hence a T(H)1-driven subtype of MS. We also show that although IL-7 signaling is neither necessary nor sufficient for the induction or expansion of T(H)17 cells, IL-7 can greatly enhance both human and mouse T(H)1 cell differentiation. IL-7 alone is sufficient to induce human T(H)1 differentiation in the absence of IL-12 or other cytokines. FurScience translational medicineIL-7 promotes T(H)1 development and serum IL-7 predicts clinical response to interferon-β in multiple sclerosis.PMC3739690R01NS 55997K99 NS0750991K99NS075099-01R01 NS055997Lee LFLin JCSteinman LKillestein JDilley Jde Jong BAWalker MGYu JEvering WHan BTu GHAxtell RPolman CHLogronio KShi JRickert MfalseIL-7 promotes T(H)1 development and serum IL-7 predicts clinical response to interferon-β in multiple sclerosis.The interleukin-7 receptor α chain (IL-7Rα) gene was identified as a top non-major histocompatibility complex-linked risk locus for multiple sclerosis (MS). Recently, we showed that a T helper 1 (T(H)1)-driven, but not a T(H)17-driven, form of MS exhibited a good clinical response to interferon-β (IFN-β) therapy. We now demonstrate that high serum levels of IL-7, particularly when paired with low levels of IL-17F, predict responsiveness to IFN-β and hence a T(H)1-driven subtype of MS. We also show that although IL-7 signaling is neither necessary nor sufficient for the induction or expansion of T(H)17 cells, IL-7 can greatly enhance both human and mouse T(H)1 cell differentiation. IL-7 alone is sufficient to induce human T(H)1 differentiation in the absence of IL-12 or other cytokines. Fur2011-01-01T00:00:00Z2011 Jul2025-04-04T21:09:35.45Z2019-03-27T01:14:23ZS-EPMC37396902179558810.1126/scitranslmed.3002400