Ahmad Ali, Ahmad Rasheed, Iannello Alexandre, Toma Emil, Morisset Richard, Sindhu Sardar T A K
Ste Justine Hospital Research Center, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Curr HIV Res. 2005 Jul;3(3):261-70. doi: 10.2174/1570162054368093.
IL-15 is a pleiotropic and multifunctional cytokine that has a diverse array of distinct biological effects in the body. It plays a crucial role in host defense from viral and non-viral intracellular pathogens. The cytokine is essential for the development and differentiation of NK cells and for homeostatic expansion of CD8+ memory T cells, NKT cells and certain subsets of intestinal intra-epithelial lymphocytes (iIEL). It acts as a survival factor and inhibits spontaneous apoptosis in T, B and NK cells by increasing expression of different anti-apoptotic proteins. Several studies have shown that IL-15 production is compromised in HIV-infected AIDS patients and exogenous IL-15 drastically enhances functions of immune cells from these patients. Considering these distinct immune enhancing effects, relative safety in animal models, and minimal effects on HIV replication, IL-15 may represent a better cytokine for immune reconstitution in these patients. Furthermore, IL-15 may also act as a better adjuvant in eliciting antiviral immunity in anti-HIV vaccine strategies.
白细胞介素-15（IL-15）是一种多效性和多功能的细胞因子，在体内具有多种不同的生物学效应。它在宿主抵御病毒和非病毒细胞内病原体的防御中起着关键作用。这种细胞因子对于自然杀伤细胞（NK细胞）的发育和分化以及CD8 + 记忆T细胞、自然杀伤T细胞（NKT细胞）和肠道上皮内淋巴细胞（iIEL）的某些亚群的稳态扩增至关重要。它作为一种生存因子，通过增加不同抗凋亡蛋白的表达来抑制T细胞、B细胞和NK细胞的自发凋亡。多项研究表明，在感染HIV的艾滋病患者中，IL-15的产生受到损害，而外源性IL-15可显著增强这些患者免疫细胞的功能。鉴于这些独特的免疫增强作用、在动物模型中的相对安全性以及对HIV复制的最小影响，IL-15可能是这些患者免疫重建的更佳细胞因子。此外，在抗HIV疫苗策略中，IL-15也可能作为一种更好的佐剂来引发抗病毒免疫。
