title: IL-15 induces mast cell migration via a pertussis toxin-sensitive receptor.
abstract: IL-15 induces proliferation, inhibits apoptosis and increases IL-4 production in murine mast cells. There is evidence that these activities are mediated via the uncharacterised receptor, IL-15R-X, rather than the classical three-chain IL-15 receptor. Effects of IL-15 on important aspects of mast cell biology, such as migration and degranulation, are unknown. We report that IL-15 induces migration of murine and human mast cells in a dose-dependent and biphasic manner, with peaks of migration occurring at approximately 10(-15) and approximately 10(-9) M. The potency of the response was similar to that induced by other well-established mast cell chemoattractants. Competition assays performed with murine and human mast cells indicate that both peaks of migration are due to chemotaxis. Pre-treatment of cells with pertussis toxin (PTX), a guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein (G-protein) inhibitor, resulted in complete inhibition of murine mast cell migration at approximately 10(-15) M IL-15, and human mast cell migration at approximately 10(-15) and approximately 10(-9) M. This demonstrates that murine and human mast cells express a PTX-sensitive receptor, activated in response to IL-15. Additionally, IL-15 did not induce degranulation in murine mast cells. Locally-produced IL-15 may contribute to mast cell recruitment during inflammatory responses, thereby acting as a linking cytokine between innate and adaptive arms of the immune system.
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicole E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Hong-Wei
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Nicodemus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tedla
authors.forename: H Patrick
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: McNeil
authors.forename: Carolyn L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Geczy
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Grimm
authors.forename: Taline
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hampartzoumian
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Hunt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000502:physiology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000502:physiology*; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D037342:Pertussis Toxin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D019409:Interleukin-15; D037342:Pertussis Toxin