Description
Interleukin 15 is a cytokine with the ability to stimulate the proliferation activity of Th1 and/or Th2 lymphocytes. This gene is mapped to human chromosome 4q31 by fluorescence in situ hybridization. IL15 is a novel cytokine whose effects on T-cell activation and proliferation are similar to those of interleukin-2 (IL-2), presumably because IL15 utilizes the beta and gamma chains of the IL-2 receptor. It can play a role in the initiation and outcome of acute and chronic rejection. Anti-IL-15 therapy in combination with classic immunosuppression therapy might be beneficial in the prevention of acute, and especially chronic, allograft rejection