Step-dose IL-7 treatment promotes systemic expansion of T cells and alters immune cell landscape in blood and lymph nodes

We employed a dose-escalation regimen in rhesus macaques to deliver glycosylated IL-7, a cytokine critical for development and maintenance of T lymphocytes. IL-7 increased proliferation and survival of T cells and triggered several chemokines and cytokines. Induction of CXCL13 in lymph nodes (LNs) led to a remarkable increase of B cells in the LNs, proliferation of germinal center follicular T helper cells and elevated IL-21 levels suggesting an increase in follicle activity. Transcriptomics analysis showed induction of IRF-7 and Flt3L, which was linked to increased frequency of circulating plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) on IL-7 treatment. These pDCs expressed higher levels of CCR7, homed to LNs, and were associated with upregulation of type-1 interferon gene signature and increased production of IFN-α2a on TLR stimulation. Superior effects and dose-sparing advantage was observed by the step-dose regimen. Thus, IL-7 treatment leads to systemic effects involving both lymphoid and myeloid compartments.