IL15

IL15

A gene on chromosome 4q31 that encodes interleukin-15, a cytokine which regulates T and natural killer cell activation and proliferation. IL15 shares many biological activities with IL-2: they both bind common haematopoietin receptor subunits and may compete for the same receptor, thus having a ying-yang relationship with each other. IL15 activates JAK kinases, as well as the phosphorylation and activation of transcription activators STAT3, STAT5 and STAT6.