Interleukin 7 requirement for survival of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and human thymocytes on bone marrow stroma

* Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Hematology ° Interdepartmental Laboratory for Medical Research (LURM), University of Verona, Italy Correspondence: Maria Teresa Scupoli, PhD, Laboratorio Universitario di Ricerca Medica (LURM), Università di Verona, Policlinico GB Rossi, Ple. L.Scuro, 10 37134 Verona, Italy. Phone: international +39.045.8074261. Fax: international +39.045.8027403. E-mail: mariateresa.scupoli{at}univr.it We explored the role of interleukin-7 (IL-7) in the bone marrow (BM) stroma-mediated survival of primary T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cells and normal thymocytes. We present evidence that IL-7 has a major role in the enhanced survival mediated by BM stroma both in T-ALL cells and thymocytes. Key words: T-ALL, thymocytes, BM stroma, IL-7, survival, proliferation.