The IL-7 cytokine plays a major role in the in vivo maintenance of polyclonal naive and memory T cells, positively regulating the survival, differentiation and proliferation of thymocyte and peripheral T lymphocyte populations. IL-7 exerts its biological function through the IL-7 receptor which is expressed on pre-B cells, thymocytes and bone marrow-derived macrophages. The IL-7 receptor is composed of an IL-7 receptor-specific chain and the IL-2 receptor γ chain common to the IL-2, IL-4,IL-7, IL-9 and IL-15 receptors. Soluble forms of the IL-7 Rα have been reported.
Background References
1. Zhang B et al. CD127 imprints functional heterogeneity to diversify monocyte responses in inflammatory diseases. J Exp Med. 2022 Feb
2. Liang KL et al. Circulating IRF8-expressing CD123(+)CD127(+) lymphoid progenitors: key players in human hematopoiesis. Trends Immunol. 2023 Sep
Sequence Similarity
Belongs to the type I cytokine receptor family. Type 4 subfamily.
Post-translational Modification
N-glycosylated IL-7Ralpha binds IL7 300-fold more tightly than the unglycosylated form.