Identification of a novel receptor/signal transduction pathway for IL-15/T in mast cells

EMBO J. 1996 Sep 16;15(18):4928-39.

Abstract

Interleukin-15/T(IL-15) is a growth factor that utilizes IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) components in addition to its private binding protein IL-15R(alpha) in T-cells. Here, we report that IL-15 induces mast cell proliferation in the absence of IL-2R alpha and beta. Using transfectants of these cells with a cytoplasmic-truncated mutant of gamma(c), we demonstrated that IL-15 signaling in mast cells does not involve gamma(c). Cross-linking of mast cells with [(125)I]IL-15 revealed a 60-65 kDa IL-15 binding protein that is distinct from known components of T-cell IL-15 receptors. Mast cell IL-15 receptors recruit JAK-2 and STAT-5, instead of JAK1/3 and STAT3/5 that are activated in T-cells. Thus IL-15 is a mast cell growth factor that utilizes a novel receptor and distinct signaling pathway.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Cells
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Cell Line
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-15 / isolation & purification
  • Interleukin-15 / metabolism*
  • Janus Kinase 1
  • Janus Kinase 2
  • Mast Cells / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Milk Proteins*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins*
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2 / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / isolation & purification
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • STAT5 Transcription Factor
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • TYK2 Kinase
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism
  • Transfection

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Interleukin-15
  • Milk Proteins
  • Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • STAT3 protein, human
  • STAT5 Transcription Factor
  • Stat3 protein, mouse
  • Trans-Activators
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • JAK1 protein, human
  • JAK2 protein, human
  • Jak1 protein, mouse
  • Jak2 protein, mouse
  • Janus Kinase 1
  • Janus Kinase 2
  • TYK2 Kinase
  • TYK2 protein, human
  • Tyk2 protein, mouse