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Interleukin-12 receptor beta1 (IL12RB1) is expressed on a variety of immune cells, including T and natural killer (NK) cells and macrophages, and is involved in innate and adaptive immune responses. Levels of IL12RB1 mRNA are dynamically regulated by various cytokines, including interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and IL-15. To reveal the regulatory mechanisms governing IL12RB1 gene expression, we analyzed the transcriptional regulatory region of the mouse IL12RB1 gene. Promoter analyses in a mouse macrophage cell line, RAW264.7, revealed that the 2508-bp region upstream of the transcriptional start site is sufficient for the full transcriptional activation of the IL12RB1 gene by IFN-gamma or IL-15. Analyses of the deletion mutants revealed critical roles of IRE/ISRE and ETS/PU.1 elements, to which IRF3 and PU.1, respectively, bound. Notably, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays revealed IL-15 rapidly induced histone H3 acetylation at the IL12RB1 promoter. Consistently, IL-15, as a histone deacetylase inhibitor, synergistically enhanced IL12RB1 gene expression and promoter activation by IFN-gamma through increased protein binding to ETS/PU.1 and IRE/ISRE sites. Additionally, IL12RB1 promoter activation by IFN-gamma was enhanced by the coexpression of a coactivator protein, CBP. Thus, IL-15 induces chromatin remodeling of the IL12RB1 gene promoter, increasing IL12RB1 mRNA expression in synergy with IFN-gamma through the recruitment of PU.1 and IRF3.

Interleukin (IL)-15, a potent inhibitor of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-mediated apoptosis, causes multiple organ failure during endotoxic shock. We investigated the potential role of IL-15 in protection against Escherichia coli-induced shock by using IL-15 transgenic (Tg) mice. These mice were resistant to an otherwise lethal challenge with E. coli, although bacterial burden and serum levels of TNF-alpha were similar in non-Tg mice. Apoptosis in cells of the peritoneal cavity, liver, spleen, or lung was significantly suppressed in IL-15 Tg mice after E. coli infection. Peritoneal cells from naive IL-15 Tg mice were also resistant to TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis in vitro, and neutralization of endogenous IL-15 significantly aggravated TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis. Exogenous IL-15 prevented TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis in normal mice in vitro and improved the survival rate after E. coli challenge. These results suggest that IL-15 overexpression can prevent TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis and protect against E. coli-induced shock, indicating a possible therapeutic application of IL-15 for septic shock.

LP-BM5 murine leukemia virus (MuLV) infection causes murine acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (MAIDS), a disease characterized by varied functional abnormalities of immunocompetent cells. We found that MAIDS progression was severely retarded in IL-15 transgenic (Tg) mice constructed with cDNA encoding secretable IL-15 under the control of an MHC class I promoter. Several immune defects, including impaired natural killer activity, depressed IFN-gamma production by T cells stimulated with anti-T cell receptor cross-linking, and increased susceptibility to Mycobacterium bovis infection, were prevented in IL-15 Tg mice inoculated with LP-BM5 MuLV. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte response to a highly antigenic 10-mer peptide encoded by LP-BM5-defective virus gag p12 gene was detected in the spleen and peritoneal exudate cells from IL-15 Tg mice infected with LP-BM5 MuLV. Intramuscular injection of cDNA encoding secretable IL-15 also prevented the development of MAIDS. These results indicate that IL-15 prevents the progression of MAIDS and may provide insight into an immunotherapeutic approach using the IL-15 gene for controlling retrovirus-induced immunodeficiency.

To investigate the immunomodulating effects of IL-15 in vivo on mycobacterial infection, we used IL-15-transgenic (Tg) mice, which were recently constructed with cDNA-encoding secretable isoform of IL-15 precursor protein under the control of a MHC class I promoter. The IL-15-Tg mice exhibited resistance against infection with Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), as assessed by bacteria growth. IFN-gamma level in serum was significantly higher in IL-15-Tg mice than in non-Tg mice after BCG infection. NK cells were remarkably increased, and Ag-specific T cytotoxic 1 response mediated by CD8+ T cells producing IFN-gamma was significantly augmented in the IL-15-Tg mice following BCG infection. Neutralization of endogenous IFN-gamma by in vivo administration of anti-IFN-gamma mAb deteriorated the clearance of the bacteria. Depletion of of NK cells or CD8+ T cells by in vivo administration of anti-asialo-GM(1) Ab or anti-CD8 mAb hampered the exclusion of bacteria. Thus, overexpression of IL-15 in vivo enhanced protection against BCG infection via augmentation of NK and T cytotoxic 1 responses.

Interleukin (IL)-15 is a member of the cytokine family with T and natural killer (NK) cell growth-promoting activity. In mast cells, however, IL-15 uses a distinct receptor system different from that used in T and NK cells. We recently reported that IL-15 induces STAT6 activation and IL-4 production in a mouse mast cell line (MC/9) and bone marrow-derived mast cells. In the present study, we have demonstrated that IL-15 prevents MC/9 and bone marrow-derived mast cell apoptosis induced by factor withdrawal or anti-Fas antibody treatment. IL-15 increased mRNA and protein levels of an anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl-x(L)) in these cells, whereas bcl-2 mRNA remained unchanged. In addition, the transcriptional activity of the bcl-x(L) promoter was increased by IL-15 in MC/9 cells. In an electrophoretic mobility shift assay, IL-15 induced STAT6 binding to the STAT recognition site in the bcl-x(L) gene promoter. Furthermore, the expression of a dominant-negative form of STAT6 abrogated the effects of IL-15 on both bcl-x(L) mRNA up-regulation and prevention of apoptosis in mast cells. Altogether, our results suggest that IL-15 plays an important role in maintaining the number of mast cells through Bcl-x(L) expression mediated by STAT6.

LP-BM5 murine leukemia virus (MuLV) injection causes murine AIDS (MAIDS), a disease characterized by many functional abnormalities of immunocompetent cells. We show that MAIDS mice are susceptible to Mycobacterium bovis Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) infection as assessed by survival rate and bacterial counts. The peritoneal exudate macrophages from MAIDS mice produced a significant level of interleukin (IL)-12 soon after inoculation with BCG, whereas IL-15 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production were severely impaired in BCG-infected MAIDS mice. The appearance of natural killer (NK) and CD4+ T helper type 1 (Th1) cells specific for mycobacterial antigen were depressed in MAIDS mice after BCG infection. Thus, it appeared that impaired production of IL-15, besides other inflammatory cytokines, in MAIDS mice may be involved in the poor responses of the NK and Th1 cells, resulting in an increased susceptibility to BCG.

Interleukin (IL)-4 plays an important role in the differentiation of naive T helper (Th) cells into Th2. Mast cells can produce a significant amount of IL-4 and have been proposed to play a major role in the induction of Th2 responses. Recently, it has been reported that mast cells have a distinct IL-15 receptor system different from that of T or natural killer cells. In the present study, we demonstrated that IL-15 induced IL-4 production from a mouse mast cell line, MC/9, and bone marrow-derived mast cells. IL-4 mRNA expression was increased by IL-15, suggesting that IL-15 promotes IL-4 expression at the transcriptional level. In these mast cells, signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 6 were rapidly tyrosine-phosphorylated in response to IL-15. In MC/9 cells, the expression of a C-terminally truncated dominant negative form of STAT6 significantly suppressed the IL-4 mRNA up-regulation by IL-15, suggesting that STAT6 activation is essential for the IL-15-mediated IL-4 production. Additionally, tyrosine phosphorylation of Tyk2 was rapidly increased by IL-15 treatment in this cell line. Altogether, our results suggest that IL-15 plays an important role in stimulating early IL-4 production in mast cells that may be responsible for the initiation of Th2 response.

The mechanisms responsible for the resistance of C57BL/6 mice and for the susceptibility of BALB/c mice to infection with Listeria monocytogenes were studied by comparing early IL-12 and IL-15 production by dendritic cells (DC) after infection with L. monocytogenes. Splenic DC expressing CD11b(low) and CD11c(+) obtained from C57BL/6 mice at 3 and 6 h after L. monocytogenes infection expressed higher levels of IL-12 p40 mRNA and IL-12 p40 protein than did those from BALB/c mice. Concurrently, a larger amount of IFN-gamma was produced by the splenic T cells from C57BL/6 mice in response to immobilized anti-TCRalphabeta mAb than by those from BALB/c mice, while the splenic T cells from BALB/c mice produced a higher level of IL-4 upon TCR alphabeta stimulation than did those of C57BL/6 mice. IL-15 mRNA and intracellular IL-15 protein were detected more abundantly in the DC from C57BL/6 mice than in those from BALB/c mice on day 3 after infection. CD3(+) IL2Rbeta (+) cells in the spleen were increased in C57BL/6 mice but not in BALB/c mice at the early stage after infection. Furthermore, IL-12Rbeta2 gene expression was up-regulated in T cells from C57BL/6 mice but not in those from BALB/c mice at the early stage after listerial infection. These results suggest that the difference in early production of IL-12 and IL-15 by DC may at least partly underlie the difference in susceptibility to L. monocytogenes between C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice., (Copyright 2000 Academic Press.)

At least two types of interleukin (IL)-15 mRNA isoforms are generated by alternative splicing at the 5' upstream of exon 5 in mice. To elucidate the potential roles of IL-15 isoforms in immune responses in vivo, we constructed two groups of transgenic mice using originally described IL-15 cDNA with a normal exon 5 (normal IL-15 transgenic [Tg] mice) and IL-15 cDNA with an alternative exon 5 (alternative IL-15 Tg mice) under the control of an MHC class I promoter. Normal IL-15 Tg mice constitutionally produced a significant level of IL-15 protein and had markedly increased numbers of memory type (CD44(high) Ly6C(+)) of CD8(+) T cells in the LN. These mice showed resistance to Salmonella infection accompanied by the enhanced interferon (IFN)-gamma production, but depletion of CD8(+) T cells exaggerated the bacterial growth, suggesting that the IL-15-dependent CD8(+) T cells with a memory phenotype may serve to protect against Salmonella infection in normal IL-15 Tg mice. On the other hand, a large amount of intracellular IL-15 protein was detected but hardly secreted extracellularly in alternative IL-15 Tg mice. Although most of the T cells developed normally in the alternative IL-15 Tg mice, they showed impaired IFN-gamma production upon TCR engagement. The alternative IL-15 transgenic mice were susceptible to Salmonella accompanied by impaired production of endogenous IL-15 and IFN-gamma. Thus, two groups of IL-15 Tg mice may provide information concerning the different roles of IL-15 isoforms in the immune system in vivo.

Interleukin (IL)-15 is a novel cytokine with growth factor activity for T cells, B cells, and natural killer cells (NK cells). We investigated the role of IL-15 in the host defense against infection with avirulent Salmonella choleraesuis strain 31N-1 cured of 50-kb virulent plasmid. IL-15 was abundantly expressed at transcription and protein levels in macrophages infected with S. choleraesuis 31N-1. The number of NK cells in the infected sites was increased during the course of infection coincident with IL-15 production. Anti-IL-15 mAb administration inhibited the emergence of NK cells and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production in serum after infection with S. choleraesuis 31N-1 and concurrently impaired the clearance of the bacteria. These results suggested that IL-15 might be responsible for protection against avirulent S. choleraesuis infection at early stage of infection through activation of NK cells in the infected sites.

We have recently found that translational efficiency is up-regulated by an alternative exon in IL-15 mRNA in mice. In a malignancy model using BALB/c mice and syngeneic Meth A fibrosarcoma (Meth A), we successfully applied immunological gene therapy with IL-15 protein using alternative IL-15 cDNA with high translational efficiency. Two expression vectors carrying the murine IL-15 gene were constructed for use in tumor immunotherapy, one utilizing IL-15 cDNA with alternative exon 5 and the second utilizing IL-15 cDNA with normal exon 5. The first vector induced the production of a large amount of IL-15 protein in Meth A cells, whereas tumor cells transfected by the second vector produced only a marginal level of IL-15 protein. Although cell growth of both transfectants in vitro remained unchanged, inoculation of clones transfected with normal IL-15 cDNA resulted in progressive tumor growth, while clones transfected with alternative IL-15 cDNA led to the rejection of the tumor. The clone producing high levels of IL-15 grew progressively in nude mice and mice treated with anti-CD4 monoclonal antibodies (mAb), whereas the growth of the transfectants was retarded in anti-CD8 mAb- or anti-asialo GM1 antibody-treated mice. Cured mice were shown to have generated immunity against a subsequent challenge with the wild type of Meth A but not against Meth 1 tumor cells, another type of fibrosarcoma derived from BALB/c mice. Thus, tumor therapy based on IL-15 gene transfection was effective against Meth A tumor cells, suggesting a possible application to human neoplasms.

Exogenous interleukin-15 (IL-15) stimulates intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (i-IEL) from mice to proliferate and produce gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) in vitro. To determine whether endogenous IL-15 is involved in activation of i-IEL during intestinal infection, we examined IL-15 synthesis by intestinal epithelial cells (i-EC) after infection with Listeria monocytogenes in rats. In in vitro experiments, invasion of L. monocytogenes into IEC-6 cells, a rat small intestine epithelial cell line, evidently induced IL-15 mRNA expression coincident with nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation, which is essential for IL-15 gene expression. IL-15 synthesis was detected in rat i-EC on day 1 after an oral inoculation of L. monocytogenes in vivo. The numbers of T-cell receptor (TCR) gamma delta+ T cells, NKR.P1(+) cells, and CD3(+) CD8(+) alpha alpha cells in i-IEL were significantly increased on day 1 after oral infection. The i-IEL from infected rats produced larger amounts of IFN-gamma upon stimulation with immobilized anti-TCR gamma delta or anti-NKR.P1 monoclonal antibodies. These results suggest that IL-15 produced by i-EC may stimulate significant fractions of i-IEL to produce IFN-gamma at an early phase of oral infection with L. monocytogenes.