IL-15Rα expression on CD8+T cells is dispensable for T cell memory

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0737048100
• Publication Date: 2003-04-15T22:56:03Z
• Authors: Patrick R. Burkett; Rima Koka; Marcia Chien; Sophia Chai; Faye Chan; Averil Ma; David L. Boone
• Keywords: Mice, Knockout; Receptors, Interleukin-15; Receptors, Interleukin-2; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Adoptive Transfer; Radiation Tolerance; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice; Mice, Congenic; 03 medical and health sciences; Poly I-C; 0302 clinical medicine; Adjuvants, Immunologic; Radiation Chimera; Animals; Immunologic Memory; Cell Division; Signal Transduction

The generation and maintenance of immunological memory requires the activation, expansion, and persistent proliferation of antigen-specific T cells. Recent work suggests that IL-15 may be important for this process. Surprisingly, we now find that expression of the high-affinity receptor for IL-15, IL-15Rα, on T cells is dispensable for the generation or maintenance of memory CD8+T cells. By contrast, IL-15Rα expression on cells other than T cells is absolutely critical for this function. These findings may be related to IL-15Rα's ability to present IL-15 in trans to low-affinity IL-15Rβ/γcreceptors on memory CD8+T cells. These unexpected results provide insights into how IL-15Rα supports memory CD8+T cells.