Data from IL-7 Contributes to the Progression of Human T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemias

Abstract

<div>Abstract<p>The importance of microenvironmental factors for driving progression in leukemia has been debated. Previous evidence has pointed to interleukin-7 (IL-7), a fundamental cytokine to normal T-cell development and homeostasis, as an important determinant of the viability and proliferation of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cells <i>in vitro</i>. In this study, we report that IL-7 is also a critical determinant of T-ALL progression. T-ALL cell lines and primary T-ALL samples initiated leukemia more slowly when engrafted to immunocompromised <i>Rag2<sup>−/−</sup>IL2rg<sup>−/−</sup></i> mice lacking IL-7. This effect was not related to reduced engraftment or homing of transplanted cells to the bone marrow. Instead, IL-7 deficiency diminished expansion of leukemia cells in the bone marrow and delayed leukemia-associated death of transplanted mice. Moreover, infiltration of different organs by T-ALL cells, which characterizes patients with advanced disease, was more heterogeneous and generally less efficient in IL-7–deficient mice. Leukemia progression was associated with increased Bcl-2 expression and cell viability, reduced p27<sup>Kip1</sup> expression, and decreased cell-cycle progression. Clinical measurements of IL-7 plasma levels and IL-7 receptor (IL-7R) expression in T-ALL patients versus healthy controls confirmed that IL-7 stimulates human leukemia cells. Our results establish that IL-7 contributes to the progression of human T-cell leukemia, and they offer preclinical validation of the concept that targeting IL-7/IL-7R signaling in the tumor microenvironment could elicit therapeutic effects in T-ALL. <i>Cancer Res; 71(14); 4780–9. ©2011 AACR</i>.</p></div>