title: Interleukin-15 enhances human neutrophil phagocytosis by a Syk-dependent mechanism: importance of the IL-15Ralpha chain.
abstract: Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a cytokine that possesses interesting, potential therapeutic properties. However, based on several parameters including activation of neutrophils, it is also recognized as a proinflammatory cytokine. The mechanisms by which IL-15 activates human neutrophil functions are not fully understood. Although these cells express a functional IL-15 receptor (IL-15R) composed of IL-15Ralpha, IL-2/15Rbeta (CD122), and gamma(c) (CD132) subunits, the role of each receptor component has not been investigated in IL-15-induced human neutrophil responses. In the present study, fluorescein-activated cell sorter analysis revealed that the ability of IL-15 to enhance neutrophil phagocytosis is not a result of increased expression of IL-15Ralpha, CD122, or CD132 on the neutrophil cell surface. Pretreatment of neutrophils with specific antibodies to IL-15Ralpha, CD122, or CD132 was found to inhibit phagocytosis of opsonized-sheep red blood cells by nearly 40%, 21%, and 27%, respectively. As expected, pretreatment of neutrophils with anti-IL-2Ralpha (CD25) had no effect. Pretreatment of cells with the Syk inhibitor piceatannol was found to significantly inhibit the ability of IL-15 to enhance phagocytosis. In addition, IL-15 was found to induce tyrosine phosphorylation of Syk that was largely inhibited by pretreating cells with piceatannol. Moreover, we found that Syk kinase is physically associated with IL-15Ralpha. We conclude that IL-15R enhances neutrophil phagocytosis by a Syk-dependent mechanism and that the IL-15Ralpha chain plays a key role in mediating this response, at least by interacting with Syk kinase.
authors.affiliation: INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, Université du Québec, 245 boul. Hymus, Pointe-Claire, Canada, H9R 1G6. denis.girard@inrs-iaf.uquebec.ca
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ratthé
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Girard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D018375:Neutrophil Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D053647:Receptors, Interleukin-15; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D000072377:Syk Kinase
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D004792:Enzyme Precursors; C508024:IL15RA protein, human; D019409:Interleukin-15; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D053647:Receptors, Interleukin-15; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D013267:Stilbenes; C041525:3,3',4,5'-tetrahydroxystilbene; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C000606896:SYK protein, human; D000072377:Syk Kinase