title: The effect of interleukin-15 on the expression of killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors on peripheral natural killer cells in human.
abstract: Interleukin (IL)-15 has emerged as a key regulator of both natural killer (NK) cell differentiation and activation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expansion of the population of cells expressing killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (CD158a and CD158b) in human peripheral lymphocytes by treatment with IL-15. One million peripheral lymphocytes were cultured in RPMI1640 medium alone or in medium containing IL-2 at 100 U/ml or IL-15 at 0.1, 1.0, or 10.0 ng/ml for 48 h. After each incubation, we assessed the natural killing activity and the population of CD16(+)CD158a(+)/b(+) cells and CD8(+)CD158a(+)/b(+) cells. IL-15 increased the NK activity and expanded the populations of CD16(+)CD158a(+)/b(+) cells and CD8(+)CD158a(+)/b(+) cells. These actions were dose dependent, and the effects of IL-15 at 1.0 ng/ml were close to those of IL-2 at 100 U/ml. These findings suggest that IL-15 induces the effector functions of resting NK cells throughout the body, and thereby plays a critical role in the activation of tissue-associated immune responses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Japanese Oriental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan. tkogure@showa.gunma-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kogure
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mantani
authors.forename: Hirozo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: Jun'ichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Katsutoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Terasawa
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000097:blood; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000097:blood*; D054340:Receptors, KIR; D054342:Receptors, KIR2DL1; D054344:Receptors, KIR2DL3
chemical_list: D019409:Interleukin-15; D007376:Interleukin-2; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D054340:Receptors, KIR; D054342:Receptors, KIR2DL1; D054344:Receptors, KIR2DL3