Skin-derived interleukin-7 contributes to the proliferation of lymphocytes in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) are malignancies of T cells that have a special affinity for the skin. We have previously reported that much of the T-cell receptor repertoire is altered in CTCL, and both malignant and nonmalignant clones are numerically expanded, presumably in response to T-cell trophic cytokines. We therefore examined levels of the T-cell trophic cytokines IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-12, IL-13, and IL-15 in plasma in 93 CTCL patients and healthy controls. Only IL-7 levels were elevated in CTCL. We next looked at lesional skin from patients with CTCL and found elevated levels of IL-7 mRNA. Explant cultures of normal and lesional CTCL skin biopsies revealed significantly more IL-7 protein production in CTCL skin. Additionally, cultures of CTCL skin released greater numbers of T cells than normal skin; this was blocked by the addition of an IL-7 neutralizing antibody. Finally, these cultures induced proliferation of normal peripheral skin-homing T cells that were added to the cultures. These observations led us to postulate that IL-7 produced by skin cells contributes to the survival and proliferation of T cells within skin lesions and is likely the source of elevated circulating IL-7 in CTCL.