T cell-independent interleukin 15Rα signals are required for bystander proliferation

Abstract

Cytokine driven or "bystander" proliferation of T cells occurs in vivo independently of major histocompatibility complex-T cell receptor interactions. This process may be important for supporting T cell homeostasis and facilitating T cell responses to microbial antigens, and may involve the cytokine interleukin (IL)-15. In this study, we find that IL-15Rα-deficient (IL-15Rα-/-) mice fail to undergo poly I:C or IL-15 driven bystander proliferation of CD8+ T cells. Surprisingly, IL-15Rα-/- CD8+ T cells proliferate in response to poly I:C when adoptively transferred into normal mice, and normal CD8+ T cells fail to proliferate in IL-15Rα-/- mice. Normal mice reconstituted with IL-15Rα-/- bone marrow cells also fail to exhibit bystander responses. Thus, CD8+ T cell independent IL-15Rα signals from radiation sensitive hematopoietic cells are likely required for bystander responses. Moreover, normal CD8+ T cells proliferate in IL-15Rα-/- mice after treatment with IL-15. Therefore, IL-15Rα signals may mediate a positive feedback loop involving the further physiological production of IL-15. These findings provide new insights into how IL-15Rα supports memory phenotype CD8+ T cell proliferation, and suggest novel mechanisms by which memory CD8+ T cells are maintained in vivo.