IL-15 Activates Telomerase and Minimizes Telomere Loss and May Preserve the Replicative Life Span of Memory CD8 super(+) T Cells In Vitro

The preservation of the replicative life span of memory CD8 super(+) T cells is vital for long-term immune protection. Although IL-15 plays a key role in the homeostasis of memory CD8 super(+) T cells, it is unknown whether IL-15 regulates the replicative life span of memory CD8 super(+) T cells. In...

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Published in:The Journal of immunology (1950) 2005-04, Vol.174 (7), p.4019-4024
Main Authors: Li, Yu, Zhi, Wang, Wareski, Przemyslaw, Weng, Nan-Ping
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:The preservation of the replicative life span of memory CD8 super(+) T cells is vital for long-term immune protection. Although IL-15 plays a key role in the homeostasis of memory CD8 super(+) T cells, it is unknown whether IL-15 regulates the replicative life span of memory CD8 super(+) T cells. In this study, we report an analysis of telomerase expression and telomere length in human memory phenotype CD8 super(+) T cells maintained by IL-15 in vitro. We demonstrate that IL- 15 is capable of activating telomerase in memory CD8 super(+) T cells via Jak3 and PI3K signaling pathways. Furthermore, IL-15 induces a sustained level of telomerase activity over long periods of time, and in turn minimizes telomere loss in memory CD8 super(+) T cells after substantial cell divisions. These findings suggest that IL-15 activates stable telomerase expression and compensates telomere loss in memory phenotype CD8 super(+) T cells, and that telomerase may play an important role in memory CD8 super(+) T cell homeostasis.
ISSN:0022-1767