IL-7 administration after BMT has no effect on the T-cell repertoire and increases the proliferative capability of T cells after BMT.

All CBA/J and (B6 × C3H)F1 recipients were transplanted as described in Table 1. IL-7 was administered from day 21 to day 27 by intraperitoneal injection (10 μg/d, panel A) or from day 14 to day 28 by subcutaneous osmotic pump (1 μg/d, panel B). Animals were humanely killed on day +28 and splenocytes were obtained for ConA proliferation assays (A) and for flow cytometric analysis of TCR-Vβ families (B). Splenocytes were cultured for 3 days with ConA (2.5 μg/mL) and [³H]-thymidine was added during the final 18 hours of culture. The mean thymidine incorporation in unstimulated splenocytes ranged from 2317 to 5141 cpm. Values represent means ± SE and each group contained 6 to 8 animals. The Vβ repertoire was determined in normal donor B10.BR mice, normal 3-month-old CBA mice, normal 9-month-old CBA/J mice, 9-month-old CBA/J BMT recipients (PBS treated; control), 9-month-old CBA/J BMT recipients (IL-7 treated).