IL-15 was discovered in the supernatant of Simian kidney epithelial cell line CV-1/EBNA, as a soluble factor capable of supporting proliferation of the IL-2-dependent cell line, CTLL-2. IL-15 is a regulatory cytokine, and it is produced by dendritic cells, epithelial cells, fibroblasts, and monocytes. IL-15 plays an important role in immune response and shares many functions with IL-2. For example, it stimulates the proliferation of activated T cells, NK cells, and B cells, and induces immunoglobulin synthesis by B cells stimulated by anti-IgM or CD40 ligand. In addition, IL-15 promotes the development of dendritic cells and induces the production of proinflammatory cytokines from macrophages. IL-15 acts as a bridge between innate and adaptive immunity because of its diverse roles in the immune system.
IL-15 binds to heterotrimeric receptors composed of IL-15Ralpha, IL-15Rbeta, and IL-15Rgammac. IL-15 shares the receptor chains beta and gammac with IL-2. IL-15 is normally not secreted in soluble form but is instead held on the cell surface bound to a unique receptor, IL-15Ralpha, especially on dendritic cells. Cell-bound IL-15 is then presented in trans form to T cells and NK cells and is recognized by the gammac receptor on these cells; such recognition maintains cell survival and intermittent proliferation.
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