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IL‐15/IL‐15Rα Intracellular Trafficking in Human Cells and Protection from Apoptosisa a
Author(s) -
PERENO RAFFAELE,
GAGGERO ALESSIA,
SCUDELETTI MARCO,
LANZA LORELLA,
MEAZZA RAFFAELLA,
MISHAL ZOHAR,
JASMIN CLAUDE,
INDIVERI FRANCESCO,
FERRINI SILVANO,
AZZARONE BRUNO
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1999.tb07644.x
Subject(s) - intracellular , microbiology and biotechnology , gene isoform , cytokine , apoptosis , interleukin 15 , juxtacrine signalling , chemistry , interleukin , biology , receptor , immunology , paracrine signalling , biochemistry , gene
ABSTRACT: IL‐15 is an immunostimulatory cytokine sharing with IL‐2 the IL‐2Rβγ complex. In vivo, IL‐15 detection in synovial fluids has been associated with the development of rheumatoid arthritis. A debate exists as to whether IL‐15 has the potential to be secreted in meaningful amounts or to act as a pericellular cytokine. Our data show (1) the presence of two IL‐15 isoforms displaying signal peptides of different length and the capacity to be secreted restricted to the isoform bearing the longer one; (2) in cells expressing the two isoforms, the existence of different nuclear localization and intracellular trafficking of IL‐15 and IL‐15Rα and (3) an intercellular microcirculation of IL‐15, not detectable with ELISA kits, but displaying a role as an anti‐apoptotic factor able to induce the deflection of the TNFR associated factor 2 (TRAF) to IL‐15Rα. Our data point to a juxtacrine mechanism of action of IL‐15 and suggest a role for IL‐15/IL‐15Rα in the regulation of apoptosis.