Interleukin 7 Receptor (IL7R) Antibody – Mouse Monoclonal

The protein encoded by this gene is a receptor for interleukine 7 (IL7). The function of this receptor requires the interleukin 2 receptor, gamma chain (IL2RG), which is a common gamma chain shared by the receptors of various cytokines, including interleukine 2, 4, 7, 9, and 15. This protein has been shown to play a critical role in the V(D)J recombination during lymphocyte development. This protein is also found to control the accessibility of the TCR gamma locus by STAT5 and histone acetylation. Knockout studies in mice suggested that blocking apoptosis is an essential function of this protein during differentiation and activation of T lymphocytes. The functional defects in this protein may be associated with the pathogenesis of the severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

IL7R: Receptor for interleukin-7. Also acts as a receptor for thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP). Defects in IL7R are a cause of severe combined immunodeficiency autosomal recessive T-cell-negative/B-cell- positive/NK-cell-positive (T(-)B(+)NK(+) SCID). A form of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), a genetically and clinically heterogeneous group of rare congenital disorders characterized by impairment of both humoral and cell-mediated immunity, leukopenia, and low or absent antibody levels. Patients present in infancy recurrent, persistent infections by opportunistic organisms. The common characteristic of all types of SCID is absence of T-cell-mediated cellular immunity due to a defect in T-cell development. Genetic variations in IL7R are a cause of susceptibility to multiple sclerosis type 3 (MS3). A multifactorial, inflammatory, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Sclerotic lesions are characterized by perivascular infiltration of monocytes and lymphocytes and appear as indurated areas in pathologic specimens (sclerosis in plaques). The pathological mechanism is regarded as an autoimmune attack of the myelin sheat, mediated by both cellular and humoral immunity. Clinical manifestations include visual loss, extra-ocular movement disorders, paresthesias, loss of sensation, weakness, dysarthria, spasticity, ataxia and bladder dysfunction. Genetic and environmental factors influence susceptibility to the disease. A polymorphism at position 244 strongly influences susceptibility to multiple sclerosis. Overtransmission of the major 'C' allele coding for Thr-244 is detected in offspring affected with multiple sclerosis. In vitro analysis of transcripts from minigenes containing either 'C' allele (Thr-244) or 'T' allele (Ile-244) shows that the 'C' allele results in an approximately two-fold increase in the skipping of exon 6, leading to increased production of a soluble form of IL7R. Thus, the multiple sclerosis associated 'C' risk allele of IL7R would probably decrease membrane-bound expression of IL7R. As this risk allele is common in the general population, some additional triggers are probably required for the development and progression of MS. Belongs to the type I cytokine receptor family. Type 4 subfamily. 4 isoforms of the human protein are produced by alternative splicing.

Protein type: Receptor, cytokine; Membrane protein, integral

Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 5p13

Cellular Component: plasma membrane; extracellular region; integral to membrane; external side of plasma membrane

Molecular Function: protein binding; interleukin-7 receptor activity; antigen binding

Biological Process: B cell proliferation; homeostasis of number of cells; cell morphogenesis; signal transduction; lymph node development; positive regulation of T cell differentiation in the thymus; cell surface receptor linked signal transduction; regulation of DNA recombination; negative regulation of T cell mediated cytotoxicity; immune response; immunoglobulin production; cell growth; regulation of cell size; T cell differentiation

Disease: Severe Combined Immunodeficiency, Autosomal Recessive, T Cell-negative, B Cell-positive, Nk Cell-positive