Interleukin-7 receptor

The interleukin-7 receptor is a protein found on the surface of cells. It is made up of two different smaller protein chains - i.e. it is a heterodimer, and consists of two subunits, interleukin-7 receptor-α (CD127) and common-γ chain receptor (CD132).^[1][2] The common-γ chain receptors is shared with various cytokines, including interleukin-2, -4, -9, and -15.^[3] Interleukin-7 receptor is expressed on various cell types, including naive and memory T cells and many others.

IL-7 receptor and signaling, common γ chain (blue) and IL-7 receptor-α (green)

Interleukin-7 receptor-α
Identifiers
Symbol	IL7R
Alt. symbols	CD127
NCBI gene	3575
HGNC	6024
OMIM	146661
RefSeq	NM_002185
UniProt	P16871
Other data
Locus	Chr. 5 p13
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interleukin 2 receptor, gamma
Identifiers
Symbol	IL2RG
Alt. symbols	SCIDX1, IMD4, CD132
NCBI gene	3561
HGNC	6010
OMIM	308380
RefSeq	NM_000206
UniProt	P31785
Other data
Locus	Chr. X q13
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Function

Interleukin-7 receptor has been shown to play a critical role in the development of immune cells called lymphocytes - specifically in a process known as V(D)J recombination^{[citation needed]}. This protein is also found to control the accessibility of a region of the genome that contains the T-cell receptor gamma gene, by STAT5 and histone acetylation ^{[citation needed]}. Knockout studies in mice suggest that blocking apoptosis is an essential function of this protein during differentiation and activation of T lymphocytes. Functional defects in this protein may be associated with the pathogenesis of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID).^[4]

Diseases

Several diseases are associated with Interleukin-7 receptor including T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia,^[5] multiple sclerosis,^[6] rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.^[7]

See also

• Cluster of differentiation