title: Interleukin 15 and its receptor.
abstract: Interleukin 15 (IL-15) is a member of the four-helix bundle cytokine family that shares many in vitro biological activities with IL-2. Previous work demonstrated that IL-15 utilizes the beta and gamma chains of the IL-2 receptor (IL-2R), and that these are essential for IL-15-mediated signal transduction. However, several lines of evidence indicated the existence of an additional, IL-15-specific receptor component. An IL-15 binding chain was identified on a murine T cell clone, and direct expression cloning was used to isolate the corresponding cDNA. The predicted structure of this protein shows sequence similarity to the IL-2R alpha chain. Transfection of this cDNA into a murine, IL-3-dependent myeloid cell line, 32D-01, conferred IL-15 binding and, together with transfection of the IL-2R beta chain, rendered the cells responsive to IL-15 stimulation. This experiment confirmed that the IL-15 binding chain is part of the IL-15 receptor, and it is designated as the IL-15R alpha subunit. The expression pattern of the IL-15R alpha mRNA is distinct from that of IL-2R alpha mRNA. Recombinant expression of a soluble form of IL-15R alpha demonstrated that it is a potent inhibitor of IL-15 biological activity.
authors.affiliation: Immunex Research and Development Corporation, Seattle, WA 98101, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cosman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumaki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahdieh
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eisenman
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Grabstein
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paxton
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: DuBose
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Friend
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D019409:Interleukin-15; D007378:Interleukins / Q000276:immunology*; D053647:Receptors, Interleukin-15; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: C508024:IL15RA protein, human; D019409:Interleukin-15; D007378:Interleukins; D053647:Receptors, Interleukin-15; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2