title: IL-15-induced conversion of monocytes to mature dendritic cells.
abstract: IL-15 is produced by a wide variety of tissues in response to inflammatory stimuli. We examined the effect of IL-15 in supporting the maturation of monocytes to dendritic cells in ex vivo culture. IL-15 transformed CD14(+) monocytes to mature dendritic cells. These dendritic cells were similar to those obtained from monocyte cultures treated with a combination of the cytokines GM-CSF, IL-4 and TNF-alpha. The effects of IL-15 did not depend on endogenously produced GM-CSF. The IL-15-induced dendritic cells also expressed chemokines and stimulated strong allo-responses that were characteristic of mature dendritic cells. These data indicate that CD14(+) monocytes respond to IL-15 by undergoing morphological transformation and acquiring characteristic dendritic cell features that facilitate antigen-specific responses of T cells. Thus, the release of IL-15 by inflammatory stimuli may induce the conversion of monocytes to immuno-stimulatory dendritic cells to support primary immune responses against pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD 21702, USA. Kamal.Saikh@det.amedd.army.mil
authors.forename: K U
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Saikh
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kissner
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Ulrich
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D051940:B7-2 Antigen; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D018925:Chemokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D051940:B7-2 Antigen; C497964:CD86 protein, human; D018925:Chemokines; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D019409:Interleukin-15; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D015847:Interleukin-4; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor