Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a cytokine with structural similarity to IL-2. Like IL-2, IL-15 binds to and signals through a complex composed of IL-2/IL-15 receptor beta chain (CD122) and the common gamma chain (gamma-C, CD132). IL-15 is secreted by mononuclear phagocytes (amongother cells) following infection by virus. This cytokine induces cell proliferation of natural killer cells, which are cells of the innate immune system whose principal role is to kill virally infected cells. IL-15 can stimulate the proliferation of T-lymphocytes. Stimulation by IL-15 occurs following its interaction withIL-15Ra. This interaction may enhance IL-15’s interaction with IL15Rß?c.
Recombinant Human IL-15 (His-tag) produced in E. coli is a single non-glycosylated polypeptide chain containing 121 amino acids. A fully biologically active molecule, rhIL-15 (His-tag) has a molecular mass of 13.6 kDa analyzed by reducing SDS-PAGE and is obtained by chromatographic techniques at GenScript.