Mucosal T cells expressing IL-7 receptor are targets for treatment of colitis.

2003 SEP 17 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Mucosal T cells expressing high levels of IL-7 receptor are potential targets for treatment of chronic colitis.

According to recent research published in the Journal of Immunology, "The IL-7/IL-7R-dependent signaling pathway plays a crucial role in regulating the immune response in intestinal mucosa. Here we demonstrate the pivotal role of this pathway in the development and treatment of chronic colitis."

"T cells expressing high levels of IL-7R were substantially infiltrated in the chronic inflamed mucosa of TCR alpha-chain knockout mice and IL-7 transgenic mice," reported Motomi Yamazaki and collaborators at Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Keio University, and Shionogi Research Laboratories. "Transfer of mucosal T cells expressing high levels of IL-7R, but not T cells expressing low levels of IL-7R, from these mice into recombinase-activating gene-2-/- mice induced chronic colitis. Selective elimination of T cells expressing high levels of IL-7R by administrating small amounts of toxin-conjugated anti-IL-7R antibody completely ameliorated established, ongoing colitis."