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The unconventional expression of IL‐15 and its role in NK cell homeostasis
Author(s) -
Huntington Nicholas D
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
immunology and cell biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.999
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1440-1711
pISSN - 0818-9641
DOI - 10.1038/icb.2014.1
Subject(s) - innate lymphoid cell , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , lymphokine activated killer cell , innate immune system , cytokine , janus kinase 3 , interleukin 21 , t cell , immune system
Natural killer (NK) cells are the founding members of the innate lymphoid cell family and contribute to the rapid production of inflammatory mediators upon pathogen detection. The evolution of receptors for self major histocompatibility complex‐I and stress‐induced ligands also bestows upon NK cells an important effector role in the clearance of virus‐infected and transformed cells. NK cells are dependent on the pleiotropic cytokine interleukin (IL)‐15 for their development, differentiation and optimal function. Here I review the regulation of IL‐15 in vivo , its role in driving NK cell differentiation and discuss the function of NK cell diversification with regard to innate immunity.