title: Interleukin-15 production during liver allograft rejection in humans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The activity of interleukin (IL)-15, a cytokine produced by macrophages, is similar to that of IL-2. We investigated whether IL-15 plays a role in liver allograft rejection.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated plasma levels and intrahepatic expression of IL-15 in 35 patients after liver transplantation, and then analyzed in vitro the influence of anticalcineurin drugs or steroids on IL-15 production and secretion. Finally, we examined the effects of IL-15 on lymphocyte proliferation in mixed lymphocyte culture in the presence or absence of anticalcineurin drugs or steroids.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma levels and in situ expression of IL-15 were enhanced during liver allograft rejection, particularly during steroid-resistant acute rejection and during chronic rejection. In vitro, IL-15 production and secretion were inhibited by neither anticalcineurin drugs nor steroids. Exogenous IL-15 enhanced cell-mediated immune response, and this effect was not inhibited by immunosuppressive drugs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL-15 can play a role in the initiation and outcome of acute and chronic rejection. Anti-IL-15 therapy in combination with classic immunosuppression therapy might thus be beneficial in the prevention of acute, and especially chronic, allograft rejection.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire, Faculté de Médecine Cochin-Port-Royal, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Filomena
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: Jerome
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frappier
authors.forename: Sebastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dharancy
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chereau
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Houssin
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weill
authors.forename: Yvon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Calmus
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019409:Interleukin-15