title: The effect of interleukin-16 and its precursor on T lymphocyte activation and growth.
abstract: Interleukin-16 (IL-16) was the first described T lymphocyte chemoattractant. It has since been shown that IL-16 also functions as a primer of T cell proliferation, a modulator of inflammatory and immune responses, a stimulus of B cell differentiation and an inhibitor of Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication. Its precursor, Prointerleukin-16 (pro-IL-16), is expressed in both the nucleus and cytoplasm of T cells. Cytoplasmic pro-IL-16 serves as the precursor for mature IL-16 while nuclear pro-IL-16 is associated with G0/G1 cell cycle arrest. Herein, we review the ability of IL-16 to act as both primer and modulator of T lymphocyte growth. The impact of IL-16 on T cell apoptosis is also discussed. Finally, we describe the role of pro-IL-16 as a T lymphocyte cell cycle growth suppressor.
authors.affiliation: The Pulmonary Center, R-304, Boston University School of Medicine, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Center
authors.forename: William W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Cruikshank
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D006678:HIV / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D019410:Interleukin-16 / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019410:Interleukin-16