title: Interleukin (IL)-15R[alpha]-deficient natural killer cells survive in normal but not IL-15R[alpha]-deficient mice.
abstract: Natural killer (NK) cells protect hosts against viral pathogens and transformed cells. IL-15 is thought to play a critical role in NK cell development, but its role in the regulation of peripheral NK cells is less well defined. We now find that adoptive transfer of normal NK cells into mice lacking the high affinity interleukin (IL)-15 receptor, IL-15Ralpha, surprisingly results in the abrupt loss of these cells. Moreover, IL-15Ralpha-deficient NK cells can differentiate successfully in radiation bone marrow chimera bearing normal cells. Finally, adoptively transferred IL-15Ralpha-deficient NK cells survive in normal but not IL-15Ralpha-deficient mice. These findings demonstrate that NK cell-independent IL-15Ralpha expression is critical for maintaining peripheral NK cells, while IL-15Ralpha expression on NK cells is not required for this function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC6084, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
authors.forename: Rima
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Koka
authors.forename: Patrick R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Burkett
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: Faye
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lodolce
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Boone
authors.forename: Averil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology*; D006706:Homeostasis; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011828:Radiation Chimera / Q000502:physiology; D053647:Receptors, Interleukin-15; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: C508025:Il15ra protein, mouse; D019409:Interleukin-15; D053647:Receptors, Interleukin-15; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2