Intragraft IL-15 transcripts are increased in human renal allograft rejection.
IL-15, a novel growth factor made by a variety of cells, stimulates T cell proliferation in a fashion similar to IL-2. IL-2 transcripts are not routinely found in rejecting human renal allografts at the time of clinically evident rejection. However, T cell proliferation continues as the rejection progresses. We postulated that IL-15 may be actively transcribed during clinical rejection and account, at least in part, for the ongoing T cell expansion. RNA was extracted from renal biopsies and reverse transcribed to cDNA which was used as template for competitive PCR. IL-2 mRNA was detected in just 3 of the 45 biopsy samples. IL-15 transcripts were detected in all renal biopsy specimens and was significantly increased in specimens obtained from rejecting as compared with nonrejecting renal allografts. IL-15 transcription correlates with rejection and may play an important role in T cell mediated rejection.
Pavlakis
M
M
Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Strehlau
J
J
Lipman
M
M
Shapiro
M
M
Maslinski
W
W
Strom
T B
TB
D000208:Acute Disease; D015870:Gene Expression; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D019409:Interleukin-15; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics; D007378:Interleukins / Q000502:physiology*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D019409:Interleukin-15; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007378:Interleukins; D012333:RNA, Messenger