Here, we present detailed data on the expression of the interleukin 7 receptor alpha chain (IL-7Ralpha) in leukaemic cells from 210 children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and describe two novel alternatively spliced transcripts of human IL-7Ralpha coding for truncated receptor proteins which are still capable of binding IL-7.
IL-7 also induces cell growth in hematologic malignancies such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, and Sezary syndrome.