Abstract

Mice devoid of the IL-15 system lose over 90% of CD8αα+ TCRαβ and TCRγδ intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (iIELs). Previous work revealed that IL-15Rα and IL-15 expressed by parenchymal cells, but not by bone marrow-derived cells, are required for normal CD8αα+ iIEL homeostasis. However, it remains unclear when and how the IL-15 system affects CD8αα+ iIELs through their development. This study found that IL-15Rα is dispensable for the thymic stage of CD8αα+ TCRαβ and TCRγδ iIEL development but is required for the maintenance and/or differentiation of the putative lineage marker negative precursors in the intestinal epithelium, especially for the most mature CD8 single positive subset. Moreover, the IL-15 system directly supports the survival of mature CD8αα+ iIEL in vivo. Taken together, this study suggests that regulation of CD8αα+ iIEL homeostasis by the IL-15 system does not occur in the thymus but involves mature cells and putative precursors in the intestine.

This article is published and distributed under the terms of the Oxford University Press, Standard Journals Publication Model (https://dbpia.nl.go.kr/pages/standard-publication-reuse-rights)
You do not currently have access to this article.