IL-15 Receptor Maintains Lymphoid Homeostasis by Supporting Lymphocyte Homing and Proliferation

• Published in: Immunity (Cambridge, Mass.) Vol. 9; no. 5; pp. 669 - 676
• Main Authors: Lodolce, James P, Boone, David L, Chai, Sophia, Swain, Rachel E, Dassopoulos, Themistocles, Trettin, Shanthi, Ma, Averil
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-11-1998
• Subjects: AIDS/HIV; Animals; B-Lymphocytes - cytology; B-Lymphocytes - immunology; B-Lymphocytes - physiology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - cytology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - physiology; Cell Movement - physiology; Homeostasis - physiology; Killer Cells, Natural - immunology; Killer Cells, Natural - physiology; Lymph Nodes - cytology; Lymph Nodes - immunology; Lymph Nodes - physiology; Lymphocyte Activation - physiology; Mice; Receptors, Interleukin-15; Receptors, Interleukin-2 - genetics; Receptors, Interleukin-2 - immunology; Receptors, Interleukin-2 - physiology; T-Lymphocytes - cytology; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; T-Lymphocytes - physiology
• ISSN: 1074-7613; 1097-4180
• DOI: 10.1016/S1074-7613(00)80664-0

The IL-15 receptor alpha subunit (IL-15Rα) mediates high-affinity binding of IL-15, a pleiotropic cytokine implicated in the development of innate immune cells. We have generated
IL-15Rα null (
IL-15Rα
−/−
) mice to understand the role of IL-15Rα in immune development and function.
IL-15Rα
−/−
mice are markedly lymphopenic despite grossly normal T and B lymphocyte development. This lymphopenia is due to decreased proliferation and decreased homing of
IL-15Rα
−/−
lymphocytes to peripheral lymph nodes. These mice are also deficient in natural killer cells, natural killer T cells, CD8
+ T lymphocytes, and TCRγδ intraepithelial lymphocytes. In addition, memory phenotype CD8
+ T cells are selectively reduced in number. Thus, IL-15Rα has pleiotropic roles in immune development and function, including the positive maintenance of lymphocyte homeostasis.