IL-7 Differentially Regulates Cell Cycle Progression and HIV-1-Based Vector Infection in Neonatal and Adult CD4+T Cells

Differences in the immunological reactivity of umbilical cord (UC) and adult peripheral blood (APB) T cells are poorly understood. Here, we show that IL-7, a cytokine involved in lymphoid homeostasis, has distinct regulatory effects on APB and UC lymphocytes. Neither naive nor memory APB CD4+cells proliferated in response to IL-7, whereas naive UC CD4+lymphocytes underwent multiple divisions. Nevertheless, both naive and memory IL-7-treated APB T cells progressed into the G1bphase of the cell cycle, albeit at higher levels in the latter subset. The IL-7-treated memory CD4+lymphocyte population was significantly more susceptible to infection with an HIV-1-derived vector than dividing CD4+UC lymphocytes. However, activation through the T cell receptor rendered UC lymphocytes fully susceptible to HIV-1-based vector infection. These data unveil differences between UC and APB CD4+T cells with regard to IL-7-mediated cell cycle progression and HIV-1-based vector infectivity. This evidence indicates that IL-7 differentially regulates lymphoid homeostasis in adults and neonates.