Critical role for IL-15 in innate immunity.
Although some functional activities of interleukin (IL)-15 on NK and T cells overlap with those of IL-2, recent findings obtained from gene-targeted mice deficient in components of IL-2/IL-15 system demonstrate distinct roles of IL-15 for the activation of innate immune system. IL-15 is a pivotal cytokine for the development and survival of NK cells, NKT cells, TCRydelta+ intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (ilEL), and for the functional maturation of dendritic cells and macrophages. IL-15 is also important for memory T cell maintenance in vivo. In this review, I summarize recent progress of studies in the IL-15/IL-15R system.
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. tohteki@sc.itc.keio.ac.jp
Toshiaki
T
Ohteki
D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000378:metabolism; D053707:Receptors, Interleukin-12; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism
D019409:Interleukin-15; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D053707:Receptors, Interleukin-12; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D007371:Interferon-gamma