The Journal of Experimental Medicine
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© The Rockefeller University Press, 0022-1007/1996/12/2405/ $5.00
The Journal of Experimental Medicine, Volume 184, Number 6, December 1, 1996 2405-2410

Brief Definitive Reports

The Involvement of Interleukin (IL)-15 in Regulating the Differentiation of Granulated Metrial Gland Cells in Mouse Pregnant Uterus

Weiguo Ye, Li-Mou Zheng, John Young, and Chau-Ching Liu

From the Laboratory of Cellular Physiology and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York 10021

Previous studies have suggested that granulated metrial gland (GMG) cells are bone marrow– derived lymphoid cells, which differentiate in situ in the mouse pregnant uterus into natural killer (NK)–like cells. Similar to NK cells, GMG cells express an abundant level of cytolytic mediators such as perforin. The factor(s) regulating the differentiation of GMG cells remain(s) to be identified, although cytokines previously implicated in the stimulation/activation of NK cells (e.g., IL-2, IL-6, IL-7, and IL-12) can be considered as potential candidates. Recently, IL-15, a novel cytokine, which displays biological activities similar to IL-2, has also been shown to be capable of activating NK cells. Using reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis, we have demonstrated in the present study that IL-15 and its cognate receptor, but not the other cytokines, are expressed in the mouse pregnant uterus, with a time course concomitant with those of cytolytic mediators in differentiated GMG cells. Moreover, IL-15, though not IL-2, is capable of inducing the expression of perforin and granzymes in pregnant uterine tissues explanted in vitro. Data obtained from in situ hybridization study have suggested that the macrophages present in the pregnant uterus may be responsible for the production of IL-15. These results suggest that IL-15 is involved in regulating the differentiation of GMG cells during mouse pregnancy.

Address correspondence to Chau-Ching Liu, Laboratory of Cellular Physiology and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021. L.-M. Zheng's current address is Vion Pharmaceuticals, Four Science Park, New Haven, CT 06511.

This work is supported in part by grants from the National Institutes of Health (CA-47307) and the Cancer Research Institute. C.-C. Liu is supported by a Career Scientist Award from the Irma T. Hirschl Trust and an Established Investigatorship from the American Heart Association (National Center).


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