Interleukin-15, as interferon-gamma, induces the killing of Leishmania infantum in phorbol-myristate-acetate-activated macrophages increasing interleukin-12.
The potential leishmanicidal activity of interleukin-15 (IL-15) was examined while priming with the cytokine phorbol-myristate-acetate (PMA)-activated macrophages and infecting them with Leishmania infantum parasites. The activation of macrophage cultures with IL-15 determined a significant anti-leishmanial activity, comparable with that induced by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). The killing of Leishmania in macrophages primed with IL-15, as well as with IFN-gamma, was followed by an increase in the IL-12 synthesis. The neutralization of IL-15 or IFN-gamma, by specific monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) caused a significant reduction in leishmanicidal activity. Furthermore, in PMA-activated macrophages, the neutralization of IL-12 production by a specific anti-IL-12 MoAb reduced leishmanicidal activity induced by IL-15 and IFN-gamma. Data indicate that IL-15 could have a role as an activator of leishmanicidal activity, directly or indirectly, by inducing IL-12 production.
D'Agostino
P
P
Department of Immuno-Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Milano
S
S
Arcoleo
F
F
Di Bella
G
G
La Rosa
M
M
Ferlazzo
V
V
Caruso
R
R
Chifari
N
N
Vitale
G
G
Mansueto
S
S
Cillari
E
E
D000818:Animals; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000378:metabolism*; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000378:metabolism*; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000276:immunology*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000276:immunology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000378:metabolism
D019409:Interleukin-15; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate