IL-7 Induces an Epitope Masking of γ c Protein in IL-7 Receptor Signaling Complex

Mediators Inflamm. 2017:2017:9096829. doi: 10.1155/2017/9096829. Epub 2017 Jan 3.

Abstract

IL-7 signaling via IL-7Rα and common γ-chain (γc) is necessary for the development and homeostasis of T cells. Although the delicate mechanism in which IL-7Rα downregulation allows the homeostasis of T cell with limited IL-7 has been well known, the exact mechanism behind the interaction between IL-7Rα and γc in the absence or presence of IL-7 remains unclear. Additionally, we are still uncertain as to how only IL-7Rα is separately downregulated by the binding of IL-7 from the IL-7Rα/γc complex. We demonstrate here that 4G3, TUGm2, and 3E12 epitope masking of γc protein are induced in the presence of IL-7, indicating that the epitope alteration is induced by IL-7 binding to the preassembled receptor core. Moreover, the epitope masking of γc protein is inversely correlated with the expression of IL-7Rα upon IL-7 binding, implying that the structural alteration of γc might be involved in the regulation of IL-7Rα expression. The conformational change in γc upon IL-7 binding may contribute not only to forming the functional IL-7 signaling complex but also to optimally regulating the expression of IL-7Rα.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / chemistry
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Epitopes / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin Receptor Common gamma Subunit / chemistry*
  • Interleukin-7 / metabolism*
  • Kinetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Domains
  • Receptors, Interleukin-7 / chemistry*
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Cytokines
  • Epitopes
  • IL7 protein, human
  • Interleukin Receptor Common gamma Subunit
  • Interleukin-7
  • Receptors, Interleukin-7
  • interleukin-7 receptor, alpha chain