Characterization of the IL-15 niche in primary and secondary lymphoid organs in vivo

G Cui, T Hara, S Simmons… - Proceedings of the …, 2014 - National Acad Sciences
G Cui, T Hara, S Simmons, K Wagatsuma, A Abe, H Miyachi, S Kitano, M Ishii, S Tani-Ichi…
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2014National Acad Sciences
IL-15 is a cytokine critical for development, maintenance, and response of T cells, natural
killer (NK) cells, NK T cells, and dendritic cells. However, the identity and distribution of IL-15–
expressing cells in lymphoid organs are not well understood. To address these questions,
we established and analyzed IL-15–CFP knock-in mice. We found that IL-15 was highly
expressed in thymic medulla, and medullary thymic epithelial cells with high MHC class II
expression were the major source of IL-15. In bone marrow, IL-15 was detected primarily in …
IL-15 is a cytokine critical for development, maintenance, and response of T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, NK T cells, and dendritic cells. However, the identity and distribution of IL-15–expressing cells in lymphoid organs are not well understood. To address these questions, we established and analyzed IL-15–CFP knock-in mice. We found that IL-15 was highly expressed in thymic medulla, and medullary thymic epithelial cells with high MHC class II expression were the major source of IL-15. In bone marrow, IL-15 was detected primarily in VCAM-1+PDGFRβ+CD31Sca-1 stromal cells, which corresponded to previously described CXCL12-abundant reticular cells. In lymph nodes, IL-15–expressing cells were mainly distributed in the T-cell zone and medulla. IL-15 was expressed in some fibroblastic reticular cells and gp38CD31 double-negative stromal cells in the T-cell zone. Blood endothelial cells, including all high endothelial venules, also expressed high IL-15 levels in lymph nodes, whereas lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) lacked IL-15 expression. In spleen, IL-15 was expressed in VCAM-1+ stromal cells, where its expression increased as mice aged. Finally, IL-15 expression in blood and LECs of peripheral lymphoid organs significantly increased in LPS-induced inflammation. Overall, we have identified and characterized several IL-15–expressing cells in primary and secondary lymphoid organs, providing a unique perspective of IL-15 niche in immune microenvironment. This study also suggests that some stromal cells express IL-7 and IL-15 differentially and suggests a way to functionally classify different stromal cell subsets.
National Acad Sciences