INTERLEUKIN 15-WHAT DO WE KNOW? THE STRUCTURE, RECEPTORS AND INHIBITORS

Interleukin 15 (IL-15) is a pleiotropic cytokine with a wide spectrum of activity. The significant role of IL-15 in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and autoimmune processes, infectious diseases and cancer suggests a possibility of a therapeutic intervention by blocking the biological activity of this cytokine. The methods of blocking IL-15, which have been already developed, are based either on the administration of anti-IL-15 and anti-IL-15 receptor antibodies or on the modifications leading to a soluble receptor molecule or a mutated IL-15, exhibiting properties of competitive antagonists. There are also other compounds used, which do not interact directly with elements of the complex of IL-15 and its receptor. Nevertheless, none of these strategies have been introduced into a wide clinical use. New perspectives for the research on the selective and efficient inhibition of IL-15 has been created by a recent definition of IL-15 and its receptor complex structure. The article discusses the structure of IL-15 and its receptor, their interactions and reviews the major advances in the research on the inhibition of IL-15.