Interleukin-7
Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is a protein and a cytokine that plays a crucial role in the immune system. It is produced by stromal cells in the bone marrow and thymus, and its primary role is to stimulate the development of T cells and B cells from stem cells.
Function[edit | edit source]
IL-7 is essential for lymphocyte development. It promotes the survival and proliferation of pre-B and pro-B cells, as well as immature and mature T cells. IL-7 also enhances the function of mature T cells and can influence the balance between regulatory T cells and effector T cells.
Clinical significance[edit | edit source]
Due to its role in immune cell development and function, IL-7 has been implicated in several immune disorders, including autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiency disorders, and cancer. Therapies that target IL-7 or its receptor are currently being investigated for the treatment of these conditions.
Autoimmune diseases[edit | edit source]
In autoimmune diseases, the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own cells. Studies have shown that levels of IL-7 can be elevated in certain autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. This suggests that IL-7 may contribute to the pathogenesis of these diseases by promoting the survival and function of autoreactive T cells.
Immunodeficiency disorders[edit | edit source]
In immunodeficiency disorders, the immune system is not able to mount an effective response to infections. IL-7 therapy has been proposed as a potential treatment for these conditions, as it can stimulate the development and function of immune cells.
Cancer[edit | edit source]
IL-7 has also been implicated in cancer, as it can promote the survival and proliferation of cancer cells. Therapies that block the action of IL-7 or its receptor are currently being investigated for the treatment of various types of cancer.
See also[edit | edit source]
| Interleukin-7 Resources | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| |
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
