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Interleukin-15
Definition 1
Interleukin-15, encoded by the IL15 gene, is a cytokine that regulates T and natural killer cell activation and proliferation. This cytokine and interleukin 2 share many biological activities. They are found to bind common hematopoietin receptor subunits, and may compete for the same receptor, and thus negatively regulate each other's activity. The number of CD8+ memory cells is controlled by a balance between this cytokine and IL2. This cytokine induces the activation of JAK kinases, as well as the phosphorylation and activation of transcription activators STAT3, STAT5, and STAT6. Three alternatively spliced transcript variants of this gene encoding two distinct isoforms have been reported. (NCI Thesaurus/LocusLink)
Definition 2
Cytokine that stimulates the proliferation of T-lymphocytes and shares biological activities with IL-2. IL-15 also can induce B-lymphocyte proliferation and differentiation. (NLM, Medical Subject Headings)
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