IL7, also known as interleukin 7, is a hematopoietic growth factor which belongs to the IL-7/IL-9 family. It is secreted by stromal cells in the bone marrow and thymus. IL7 stimulates the proliferation of lymphoid progenitors. It is important for proliferation during certain stages of B-cell maturation. IL7 and the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) form a heterodimer that functions as a pre-pro-B cell growth-stimulating factor. It is found to be a cofactor for V(D)J rearrangement of the T cell receptor beta (TCRß) during early T cell development. IL7 can be produced locally by intestinal epithelial and epithelial goblet cells, and may serve as a regulatory factor for intestinal mucosal lymphocytes.
