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Endogenous IL‐15 might be responsible for early protection by natural killer cells against infection with an avirulent strain of Salmonella choleraesuis in mice
Author(s) -
Hirose Kenji,
Nishimura Hitoshi,
Matsuguchi Tetsuya,
Yoshikai Yasunobu
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1002/jlb.66.3.382
Subject(s) - biology , microbiology and biotechnology , virulence , interleukin 12 , cytokine , interferon , salmonella , salmonella infection , plasmid , virology , salmonella enterica , interferon gamma , bacteria , immunology , in vitro , gene , cytotoxic t cell , biochemistry , genetics
Interleukin (IL)‐15 is a novel cytokine with growth factor activity for T cells, B cells, and natural killer cells (NK cells). We investigated the role of IL‐15 in the host defense against infection with avirulent Salmonella choleraesuis strain 31N‐1 cured of 50‐kb virulent plasmid. IL‐15 was abundantly expressed at transcription and protein levels in macrophages infected with S. choleraesuis 31N‐1. The number of NK cells in the infected sites was increased during the course of infection coincident with IL‐15 production. Anti‐IL‐15 mAb administration inhibited the emergence of NK cells and interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) production in serum after infection with S. choleraesuis 31N‐1 and concurrently impaired the clearance of the bacteria. These results suggested that IL‐15 might be responsible for protection against avirulent S. choleraesuis infection at early stage of infection through activation of NK cells in the infected sites. J. Leukoc. Biol. 66: 382–390; 1999.