title: IL-15 receptor maintains lymphoid homeostasis by supporting lymphocyte homing and proliferation.
abstract: The IL-15 receptor alpha subunit (IL-15Ralpha) mediates high-affinity binding of IL-15, a pleiotropic cytokine implicated in the development of innate immune cells. We have generated IL-15Ralpha null (IL-15Ralpha-/-) mice to understand the role of IL-15Ralpha in immune development and function. IL-15Ralpha-/- mice are markedly lymphopenic despite grossly normal T and B lymphocyte development. This lymphopenia is due to decreased proliferation and decreased homing of IL-15Ralpha-/- lymphocytes to peripheral lymph nodes. These mice are also deficient in natural killer cells, natural killer T cells, CD8+ T lymphocytes, and TCRgammadelta intraepithelial lymphocytes. In addition, memory phenotype CD8+ T cells are selectively reduced in number. Thus, IL-15Ralpha has pleiotropic roles in immune development and function, including the positive maintenance of lymphocyte homeostasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lodolce
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Boone
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Swain
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dassopoulos
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trettin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D053647:Receptors, Interleukin-15; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C508025:Il15ra protein, mouse; D053647:Receptors, Interleukin-15; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2