Interleukin-15, a leukocyte activator and growth factor, is produced by cortical tubular epithelial cells.
J Am Soc Nephrol
; 9(7): 1194-201, 1998 Jul.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-9644629
ABSTRACT
Many renal diseases, including transplant rejection, are mediated by mononuclear cells. Interleukin-15 (IL-15) has been recently described as a cytokine with IL-2-like activity. IL-15 is an effective leukocyte growth factor, activator, and chemoattractant. In rejected human kidney allografts, elevated IL-15, but not IL-2, mRNA is expressed, suggesting a role for IL-15 in the rejection process. The aim of this study was to investigate whether human cortical tubular epithelial cells (HTC) are able to produce IL-15 and whether IL-15 expression is regulated by inflammatory mediators. HTC were isolated and characterized, and IL-15 expression was analyzed by reverse transcription-PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and bioactivity. It was found that HTC constitutively express IL-15. Upon stimulation of HTC with interferon-gamma (IFN gamma), the levels of both mRNA and protein increased up to twofold. In contrast, lipopolysaccharide, IL-1, IL-2, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha had no detectable effect. IFN gamma action on HTC was dose-dependent from concentrations of 5 U/ml, reaching a plateau at 50 U/ml. HTC supernatants induced proliferation of the T cell line CTLD, which could be partially blocked (50%) by specific IL-15 antibodies. This study shows that IL-15 is secreted by HTC and that the Th1-cytokine IFN gamma upregulates IL-15 expression. This suggests that HTC play a role in cell-mediated renal diseases by releasing IL-15.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Interleukin-15
/
Kidney Cortex
/
Kidney Tubules
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
J Am Soc Nephrol
Journal subject:
NEFROLOGIA
Year:
1998
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Israel