IL-15 enhances CCR5-mediated migration of memory CD8 + T cells by upregulating CCR5 expression in the absence of TCR stimulation
Authors
In-Ho Seo ; Hyuk Soo Eun ; Ja Kyung Kim ; Hoyoung Lee ; Seongju Jeong ; Seong Jin Choi ; Jeewon Lee ; Byung Seok Lee ; Seok Hyun Kim ; Woo Sun Rou ; Dong Hyeon Lee ; Won Kim ; Su-Hyung Park ; Eui-Cheol Shin
CCR5 ; IL-15 ; bystander-activated CD8(+) T cells ; migration
Abstract
During microbial infection, bystander CD8+ T cells that are not specific to infecting pathogens can be activated by interleukin (IL)-15. However, the tissue-homing properties of bystander-activated CD8+ T cells have not been elucidated. Here, we examine the effects of IL-15 on the expression of chemokine receptors on CD8+ T cells and their migration. IL-15 upregulates CCR5 in memory CD8+ T cells in the absence of T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation and enhances CCR5-dependent migration. IL-15-induced CCR5 upregulation is abrogated by TCR stimulation, indicating that CCR5 is upregulated in bystander-activated CD8+ T cells. Moreover, CCR5 signals increase proliferation and cytotoxic protein expression in IL-15-treated memory CD8+ T cells, although the increase has a small extent. CCR5 upregulation in bystander-activated CD8+ T cells is associated with severe liver injury in patients with acute hepatitis A. Altogether, the results indicate that CCR5 upregulation by IL-15 mediates the migration of bystander-activated CD8+ T cells.