IL-15/IL-15 receptor biology: a guided tour through an expanding universe

Vadim Budagian1, Elena Bulanova, Ralf Paus

  • 1Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Research Center Borstel, D-23845 Borstel, Germany.

The cytokine interleukin-15 (IL-15) has a key role in promoting survival, proliferation and activation of natural killer (NK) and CD8+ T cells. Despite its functional similarities to IL-2, IL-15 affects a wider range of target cell populations and utilizes different mechanisms of signaling. Here, we review recent advances in the IL-15-mediated signaling, and in the functional properties on cells besides T lymphocytes and NK cells. These are discussed in the context of their potential clinical and therapeutic relevance.

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