IL-7 differentially regulates cell cycle progression and HIV-1-based vector infection in neonatal and adult CD4⁺ T cells

Abstract

Differences in the immunological reactivity of umbilical cord (UC) and adult peripheral blood (APB) T cells are poorly understood. Here, we show that IL-7, a cytokine involved in lymphoid homeostasis, has distinct regulatory effects on APB and UC lymphocytes. Neither naive nor memory APB CD4⁺ cells proliferated in response to IL-7, whereas naive UC CD4⁺ lymphocytes underwent multiple divisions. Nevertheless, both naive and memory IL-7-treated APB T cells progressed into the G_1b phase of the cell cycle, albeit at higher levels in the latter subset. The IL-7-treated memory CD4⁺ lymphocyte population was significantly more susceptible to infection with an HIV-1-derived vector than dividing CD4⁺ UC lymphocytes. However, activation through the T cell receptor rendered UC lymphocytes fully susceptible to HIV-1-based vector infection. These data unveil differences between UC and APB CD4⁺ T cells with regard to IL-7-mediated cell cycle progression and HIV-1-based vector infectivity. This evidence indicates that IL-7 differentially regulates lymphoid homeostasis in adults and neonates.