Interleukin-15 in Outcomes of Pregnancy |
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Authors: | Scott M Gordon |
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Affiliation: | 1.Division of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;2.Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA |
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Abstract: | Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a pleiotropic cytokine that classically acts to support the development, maintenance, and function of killer lymphocytes. IL-15 is abundant in the uterus prior to and during pregnancy, but it is subject to tight spatial and temporal regulation. Both mouse models and human studies suggest that homeostasis of IL-15 is essential for healthy pregnancy. Dysregulation of IL-15 is associated with adverse outcomes of pregnancy. Herein, we review producers of IL-15 and responders to IL-15, including non-traditional responders in the maternal uterus and fetal placenta. We also review regulation of IL-15 at the maternal–fetal interface and propose mechanisms of action of IL-15 to facilitate additional study of this critical cytokine in the context of pregnancy. |
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Keywords: | Interleukin-15 CD122 pregnancy inflammation placenta natural killer cells macrophages trophoblast |
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