Diverse functions of IL-2, IL-15, and IL-7 in lymphoid homeostasis.
IL-2, IL-15, and IL-7 are cytokines that are critical for regulating lymphoid homeostasis. These cytokines stimulate similar responses from lymphocytes in vitro, but play markedly divergent roles in lymphoid biology in vivo. Their distinct physiological functions can be ascribed to distinct signaling pathways initiated by proprietary cytokine receptor chains, differential expression patterns of the cytokines or their receptor chains, and/or signals occurring in distinct physiological contexts. Recently, the discovery of a novel mechanism of cytokine signaling, trans-presentation, has provided further insights into the different ways these cytokines function. Trans-presentation also raises several novel cell biological and cellular implications concerning how cytokines support lymphoid homeostasis.
Department of Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Program, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143-0451, USA. averil.ma@ucsf.edu
Averil
A
Ma
Rima
R
Koka
Patrick
P
Burkett
D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006706:Homeostasis; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000276:immunology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology*; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000276:immunology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D018448:Models, Immunological; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
D019409:Interleukin-15; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015851:Interleukin-7