Characterization of an interleukin-7-dependent thymic cell line derived from a p53-/- mouse

In order to study the response of T cells to IL-7, we aimed to generate an IL-7-dependent thymocyte line. CD4(-)CD8(-)thymocytes from a p53(-)/(-) mouse were continuously propagated in interleukin-7 (IL-7), and after 2 months there developed an immortal line termed D1. The D1 line has retained a stable dependency on IL-7. Withdrawal of IL-7 from D1 cells induced arrest in G1 phase of the cell cycle, followed by apoptosis. In addition to IL-7, several other cyrokines that employ gamma(e) as part of their receptor were also capable of stimulating D I cell survival and proliferation. Gene induction by IL-7 was analyzed in D1 cells using RNase protection and array analysis and revealed a number of transcripts potentially involved in cell cycle, apoptosis and signaling. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.