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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2011 Jan 4.
Published in final edited form as: Immunol Lett. 2009 Oct 7;127(2):85–92. doi: 10.1016/j.imlet.2009.09.009

Figure 1. IL-15 Trans-presentation and other speculative mechanisms of IL-15 delivery.

Figure 1

Cartoon depicts the interface between two cell surfaces with possible scenarios mediating (A-C) or inhibiting (D) IL-15 responses. A) For trans-presentation, IL-15Rα and IL-15 encounter each other in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and are transported to the cell surface where the cell surface complex can stimulate neighboring cells through the IL-15Rβ/γC. B) Cis-presentation has been suggested where IL-15 is presented by IL-15Rα on the same cell; this mechanisms may utilize IL-15 derived from autocrine or paracrine sources. C) IL-15/IL-15Rα complexes can be generated artificially and act as agonist to stimulate neighboring cells. D) Cleaved, empty IL-15Rα may act as a sink to bind sIL-15 and antagonize IL-15 activity. The depiction of the interaction between IL-15Rα and IL-15 is stylized and not reflective of protein structural studies.