Concentration and activity of the soluble form of the interleukin-7 receptor α in type 1 diabetes identifies an interplay between hyperglycemia and immune function.

ABSTRACT: Soluble interleukin-7 (IL-7) receptor α (sCD127) is implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. We show that serum sCD127 concentrations are increased at the onset of type 1 diabetes (T1D; n = 390) as compared with concentrations in age-matched islet autoantibody-negative first-degree relatives of patients (n = 392; P = 0.00001). sCD127 concentration in patients was influenced by islet autoantibody status (P = 0.003) and genotype of the rs6897932 single nucleotide polymorphism within the IL-7RA gene (P = 0.006). Release of sCD127 in vitro was strongly upregulated by activation of T lymphocytes and affected by exposure to cytokines. sCD127 bound IL-7 and was antagonistic to IL-7 signaling and IL-7-mediated T-cell proliferation, suggesting a regulatory feedback mechanism on T-cell

SUBMITTER: Monti P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3712069 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature