Journal of Cell Science & Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

Interleukin -7 (IL-7) Increases Metabolic Thymic and CNS Activity

Isabelle Magalhaes, Alejandro Sánchez-Crespo, Marco Pagani, Nalini K. Vudattu, Gudrun Nylen, Christer Halldin, Mats Spångberg, Stig A. Larsson, Balázs Gulyás and Markus J. Maeurer

Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is currently used in a number of clinical trials in humans, including treatment trials for patients with HIV or HCV infection. We would like to draw the attention concerning the impact of IL-7 on the central nervous system (CNS), since most clinical evaluations may not include detailed CNS examination, e.g. Positron Emission Tomography - Computed Tomography (PET-CT) or the evaluation of changes in complex behavior patterns. Increased IL-7-mediated thymic activity demonstrates that viable thymic tissue can be activated in younger individuals; we observed also increased metabolic activity in bone marrow. This has also been observed in clinical studies with individuals who received 30 and 60 μg IL-7 /kg bodyweight leading to increased B-cell progenitors, yet without increased numbers of peripheral B-cells. In summary, our results suggest that IL-7 is able to activate thymic tissue, if functionally receptive. Increased CNS metabolic activity after IL-7 application suggests to monitor the effects of IL-7 for more complex neurological functions and the CNS-metabolic axis in more controlled, comprehensive study settings. It also prepares to consider effects of cytokines on networks of non-lymphoid cells and tissues in patients enrolled in IL-7 trials.