Analysis of the peripheral T cell function by using IL-7R conditional knockout mice

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Little is known about the roles of IL-7 signal in the peripheral T cell function. To address this question, we used peripheral naive T cells from IL-7 receptor (IL-7R) conditional knockout mice or mutant mice of IL-7R-regulatory region and analyzed their TCR responsiveness. We found the possibility that IL-7 signal in naive T cells is required for the proliferation when these T cells are activated by TCR stimulation, and there is positive correlation between IL-7R expression levels on naive T cells and their TCR responsiveness at least in vitro. In addition, we found that regulatory T cells (Tregs) from IL-7R conditional knockout mice show weak suppression activity compared to that of wild-type mice derived Tregs in vitro.