IL-7 Induces an Epitope Masking of γc Protein in IL-7 Receptor Signaling Complex

Figure 3

Energy-independent reduction of γc surface expression. (a) T cells were stimulated in the presence of IL-7 plus sodium azide or vehicle, and the γc (4G3) surface expression is analyzed by FACS. Data are summary of three independent experiments (mean and SEM). (b) T cells were stimulated in the presence of IL-7 at 4°C or 37°C, and the γc surface expression is analyzed by FACS. Data are summary of three independent experiments (mean and SEM). (c) T cells were stimulated in the presence of IL-7 plus sodium azide or vehicle at 4°C or 37°C for 16 hours, and the γc (4G3) surface expression is analyzed by FACS. The maximum value of -axis is 200 for 4°C and 37°C medium histograms and is 40 for sodium azide histogram. Histograms are representative of three independent experiments. (d) Relationship between IL-7Rα downregulation and γc expression. Relative expression was calculated as the ΔMFI associated with IL-7 treated group at the indicated condition over the ΔMFI associated with medium control group at the relevant condition. Data are summary of three independent experiments (mean and SEM). (e) Kinetics of γc (4G3) surface level upon short-term (10 minutes) and long-term (240 minutes) stimulation with different concentration of IL-7. T cells were stimulated with an indicated concentration of IL-7 for 10 and 240 minutes, and the surface γc and IL-7Rα expression were analyzed by FACS. Data are summary of three independent experiments (mean and SEM).

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