IL-7

Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is a stromal cell-derived cytokine essential for lymphocyte development and peripheral T-cell homeostasis. Produced mainly by thymic and bone marrow stromal cells, dendritic cells and intestinal epithelial cells, IL-7 signals through IL-7Rα (CD127) paired with the common gamma chain (CD132), activating JAK1/JAK3-STAT5 and PI3K-AKT pathways. In the thymus, IL-7 supports T-cell receptor rearrangement and survival of developing thymocytes; in the periphery, it is indispensable for naive and memory CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell maintenance by regulating MCL-1 and BCL-2. IL-7 also promotes T-cell recovery after lymphodepletion, and its receptor loss causes severe combined immunodeficiency, while abnormal IL-7 signaling is linked to autoimmunity and T-ALL.