Interleukin-15 and its impact on neutrophil function

Interleukin-15 is a recently discovered cytokine produced by several cell t ypes (including fibroblasts, keratinocytes, endothelial cells, and macropha ges) in response to endotoxin or microbial infection. In turn, interleukin- 15 has been shown to act on various cells of the immune system, including T and B lymphocytes, natural killer cells, monocytes, eosinophils, and circu lating neutrophils. In the latter instance, interleukin-15 was initially ob served to induce cytoskeletal rearrangements, to enhance phagocytosis, to i ncrease the synthesis of several cellular proteins, and to delay apoptosis. Recently, interleukin-15 has been found to elicit other functional respons es in neutrophils, such as chemokine production. This review recapitulates advances made in the area of interleukin-15/neutrophil interactions. (C) 20 00 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.