Year: 1998
Type: article
Abstract: Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a newly-discovered cytokine that is produced by activated monocytes early in the course of the innate immune response. IL-15 is able to bind to components of the interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) despite the fact that it has no sequence homology with IL-2. IL-15 stimulates human natural killer cell proliferation, cytotoxicity, and cytokine production and can substitute for IL-2 under most conditions. In vitro studies indicate that monocyte-derived IL-15 may be an important determinant of IFN-gamma production by NK cells. In addition, IL-15 is able to promote the survival of natural killer cells under serum-free conditions. The IL-15 receptor is a heterotrimeric complex which is composed of the IL-2R beta and gamma chains in combination with a unique alpha chain (IL-15 alpha). The IL-15R alpha chain has strong sequence homology to the IL-2R alpha chain and confers high affinity binding to the IL-15R. In contrast to IL-2, transcript for IL-15 and IL-15 alpha is expressed in a number of tissues and indicates that IL-15 may be an important ligand for cells that express components of the IL-2R.
Authors: W. Carson, M.A. Caligiuri
Institution: Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
Language: English
Subfield: Immunology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,600
OpenAlex ID: W2033408596