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BMC Immunology

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Open Access 01-12-2012 | Research article

Regulation of in vitro human T cell development through interleukin-7 deprivation and anti-CD3 stimulation

Authors: Ekta S Patel, Starlyn Okada, Kevin Hachey, Li-jun Yang, Scott K Durum, Jan S Moreb, Lung-Ji Chang

Published in: BMC Immunology | Issue 1/2012

Abstract

Background

The role of IL-7 and pre-TCR signaling during T cell development has been well characterized in murine but not in human system. We and others have reported that human BM hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) display poor proliferation, inefficient double negative (DN) to double positive (DP) transition and no functional maturation in the in vitro OP9-Delta-like 1 (DL1) culture system.

Results

In this study, we investigated the importance of optimal IL-7 and pre-TCR signaling during adult human T cell development. Using a modified OP9-DL1 culture ectopically expressing IL-7 and Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt3L), we demonstrated enhanced T cell precursor expansion. IL-7 removal at various time points during T cell development promoted a slight increase of DP cells; however, these cells did not differentiate further and underwent cell death. As pre-TCR signaling rescues DN cells from programmed cell death, we treated the culture with anti-CD3 antibody. Upon pre-TCR stimulation, the IL-7 deprived T precursors differentiated into CD3⁺TCRαβ⁺DP cells and further matured into functional CD4 T cells, albeit displayed a skewed TCR Vβ repertoire.

Conclusions

Our study establishes for the first time a critical control for differentiation and maturation of adult human T cells from HPCs by concomitant regulation of IL-7 and pre-TCR signaling.

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Title: Regulation of in vitro human T cell development through interleukin-7 deprivation and anti-CD3 stimulation
Authors: Ekta S Patel
Starlyn Okada
Kevin Hachey
Li-jun Yang
Scott K Durum
Jan S Moreb
Lung-Ji Chang
Publication date: 01-12-2012
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Immunology / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2172
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2172-13-46

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