Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2023 Jul 1.
Published in final edited form as: Autoimmun Rev. 2022 May 17;21(7):103120. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2022.103120

Figure 1. IL-7/IL-7R mechanism of action in immune cells and autoimmune diseases.

Figure 1.

IL-7/IL-7R is associated with several autoimmune diseases like Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA), and Spondyloarthritis (SpA). Furthermore, it plays a pivotal role in different cell types such as monocytes/macrophages (Mϴs), RA fibroblasts (FLS), endothelial cells, and T cells. The IL-7/IL-7R pathway is involved in monocyte migration, pro-inflammatory Mϴ, osteoclast reprogramming, and the elevation of pro-angiogenic factors, that result in arthritis progression. Moreover, IL-7/IL-7R physiologically promotes T cell proliferation and prolonged survival as well as pathologically influencing Th1/Th17 cell differentiation, potentiated glycolysis, and expansion of osteoclast maturation. In endothelial cells, angiogenic factors are produced upon IL-7/IL-7R signaling. To date, the impact of IL-7/IL-7R pathology is undescribed in RA FLS.