Inhibition of Interleukin 7 Receptor Signaling by Antigen Receptor Assembly

After the productive rearrangement of immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain genes, precursor (pre-)B lymphocytes undergo a limited number of cell divisions in response to interleukin (IL)-7. Here, we present evidence that this phase of IL-7–dependent expansion is constrained by an inhibitory signal initiated by antigen receptor assembly. A line of pre-B cells from normal murine bone marrow that expresses a μ heavy chain with a D-proximal V_H7183.2 region divides continuously in IL-7. IL-7 responsiveness ceases upon differentiation to the μ¹, κ¹ stage, despite continuing expression of the IL-7 receptor (IL-7R), suggesting that antigen receptor assembly inhibits IL-7 responsiveness. This is confirmed by introduction of a rearranged λ light chain gene, which inhibits proliferative signaling through the IL-7R. Inhibition is specific to the IL-7R, because it is overcome by replacement of the IL-7R cytoplasmic domain with corresponding sequences from the closely related IL-2Rβ chain. Alteration of a single tyrosine residue, Tyr410, in the IL-7R cytoplasmic domain to phenylalanine also prevents the inhibition of proliferation after antigen receptor assembly. Thus, the loss of IL-7 responsiveness after antigen receptor assembly may be mediated through the recruitment of an inhibitory molecule to this residue. Our findings identify a novel mechanism that limits cytokine-dependent proliferation during B lymphopoiesis. This mechanism may be essential for the proper regulation of peripheral B lymphocyte numbers.