page_title: Interleukin 7
section_title: IL-7 signaling
hierarchical_section_title: Interleukin 7 / Function / IL-7 signaling
caption_attribution_description: IL-7 bind to IL-7 - common-ganma chain complex.
context_page_description: Interleukin 7 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the IL7 gene.
  IL-7 is a hematopoietic growth factor secreted by stromal cells in the bone marrow and thymus. It is also produced by keratinocytes, dendritic cells, hepatocytes, neurons, and epithelial cells, but is not produced by normal lymphocytes.
context_section_description: IL-7 binds to the IL-7 receptor, a heterodimer consisting of Interleukin-7 receptor alpha and common gamma chain receptor. Binding results in a cascade of signals important for T-cell development within the thymus and survival within the periphery. Knockout mice which genetically lack IL-7 receptor exhibit thymic atrophy, arrest of T-cell development at the double positive stage, and severe lymphopenia. Administration of IL-7 to mice results in an increase in recent thymic emigrants, increases in B and T cells, and increased recovery of T cells after cyclophosphamide administration or after bone marrow transplantation.
caption: IL-7 receptor and signaling, common γ chain (blue) and IL-7 receptor-α (green)
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