title: IL-15: targeting CD8+ T cells for immunotherapy.
abstract: IL-15 is a pleiotropic cytokine that plays an important role in both the innate and adaptive immune system. IL-15 promotes the activation of neutrophils and macrophages, and is critical to DC function. In addition, IL-15 is essential to the development, homeostasis, function and survival of natural killer (NK) cells, NK T (NKT) cells and CD8+ T cells. Based on these properties, IL-15 has been proposed as a useful cytokine for immunotherapy. It is currently being investigated in settings of immune deficiency, for the in vitro expansion of T and NK cells, as well as an adjuvant for vaccines. In this paper, we will review the targeting of IL-15 for immunotherapy, with a particular emphasis on its effects on CD8+ T cells.
authors.affiliation: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diab
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Alpdogan
authors.forename: M-A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Perales
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D014612:Vaccines / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D019409:Interleukin-15; D014612:Vaccines