IL-15 promotes regulatory T cell function and protects against diabetes development in NK-depleted NOD mice

IL-15, an anti-apoptotic cytokine, has been reported to promote the survival and function of NK cells and T cells, including regulatory T cells (Tregs). Here we examined the effect of repeated injections of IL-15 on the development of diabetes in NOD mice. Injection of recombinant murine IL-15, once a day for 2 weeks, neither inhibited nor accelerated diabetes development in untreated NOD mice. However, treatment with IL-15 significantly reduced the incidence and delayed the onset of diabetes in NOD mice that were depleted of NK cells, while NK cell depletion alone had no protection against the disease development. The protective effect in IL-15-treated, NK cell-depleted NOD mice was associated with an increase in immunosuppressive activity of CD4⁺CD25⁺ Tregs. IL-15 also enhanced Foxp3 expression in CD4⁺CD25⁺ cells in an in vitro culture system, and such an effect of IL-15 was abrogated by IL-15-activated NK cells. Inhibition of IL-15-induced Foxp3 expression by IL-15-activated NK cells likely resulted from their IFN-γ production, as recombinant IFN-γ, or the culture supernatant of IL-15-activated wild-type mouse NK cells but not of IL-15-activated IFN-γ-deficient NK cells, mediated a similar inhibition. IFN-γ also diminished the stimulatory effect of IL-15 on Treg function in vitro. These results indicate that IL-15 has the potential to promote Treg function and protect against diabetes development in NOD mice, but such an activity can be eliminated by simultaneous activation of NK cells in IL-15-treated mice.