GMP Human IL-7

Interleukin (IL)-7 is a non-redundant cytokine in T-cell development and function. It is required in early T-cell development as well as for T-cell homeostasis and is secreted by stromal cells in the thymic and bone marrow (BM) environment. IL-7 binds to its receptor which is composed of the two chains IL-7Rα (CD127), shared with the thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), and the common γ chain (CD132) for IL-2, IL-15, IL-9 and IL-21. Whereas γc is expressed by most hematopoietic cells, IL-7Rα is nearly exclusively expressed on lymphoid cells. After binding to its receptor, IL-7 signals through two different pathways: Jak-Stat (Janus kinase-Signal transducer and activator of transcription) and PI3K/Akt responsible for differentiation and survival, respectively.