The protein encoded by the IL15 gene is a
cytokine that regulates T and natural killer cell activation and
proliferation. This cytokine and interleukine 2 share many biological
activities. They are found to bind common hematopoietic receptor
subunits and may compete for the same receptor, and thus negatively
regulate each other's activity. The number of CD8+ memory cells is shown
to be controlled by a balance between this cytokine and IL2. This
cytokine induces the activation of JAK kinases, as well as the
phosphorylation and activation of transcription activators STAT3, STAT5,
and STAT6. Studies of the mouse counterpart suggested that this
cytokine may increase the expression of apoptosis inhibitor
BCL2L1/BCL-x(L), possibly through the transcription activation activity
of STAT6, and thus prevent apoptosis. Alternatively, spliced transcript
variants of this gene have been reported.
参考文献
Mongini PKA, Gupta R, Boyle E, et al.
TLR-9 and IL-15 synergy promotes the in vitro clonal expansion of
chronic lymphocytic leukemia B cells. Journal of immunology (Baltimore,
Md : 1950). 2015;195(3):901-923.
