“…In addition to playing a critical role in peripheral immune homeostasis [9] , [14] , [15] , [16] , [17] , [18] and the development and maintenance of T-cell memory, [19] , [20] IL-7 also plays an important role in the activation of CD8 T-cells in response to foreign antigen. IL-7 independently stimulates CD8 T-cell proliferation, [21] , [22] , [23] , [24] and potentiates cytolytic activity [25] , [26] , [27] , [28] , [29] , [30] , [31] by enhancing production of IFN-γ following TCR stimulation [32] , [33] and by inducing accumulation of intracellular perforin. [34] , [35] Given the important role IL-7 plays in CD8 T-cell responses, decreased IL-7 signaling would be expected to result in impaired cell mediated immunity and inefficient control of viral pathogens including HIV.…”