title: Cutting edge: murine dendritic cells require IL-15R alpha to prime NK cells.
abstract: NK cells protect hosts against viral pathogens and transformed cells, and dendritic cells (DCs) play important roles in activating NK cells. We now find that murine IL-15Ralpha-deficient DCs fail to support NK cell cytolytic activity and elaboration of IFN-gamma, despite the fact that these DCs express normal levels of costimulatory molecules and IL-12. By contrast, IL-15Ralpha expression on NK cells is entirely dispensable for their activation by DCs. In addition, blockade with anti-IL-15Ralpha and anti-IL-2Rbeta but not anti-IL-2Ralpha-specific Abs prevents NK cell activation by wild-type DCs. Finally, presentation of IL-15 by purified IL-15Ralpha/Fc in trans synergizes with IL-12 to support NK cell priming. These findings suggest that murine DCs require IL-15Ralpha to present IL-15 in trans to NK cells during NK cell priming.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
authors.forename: Rima
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Koka
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Burkett
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Boone
authors.forename: Averil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019138:Antibodies, Blocking / Q000494:pharmacology; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002474:Cell-Free System / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D020297:Mice, Congenic; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D053647:Receptors, Interleukin-15; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D019138:Antibodies, Blocking; C508024:IL15RA protein, human; C508025:Il15ra protein, mouse; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D019409:Interleukin-15; D021122:Protein Subunits; D053647:Receptors, Interleukin-15; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2