IL-15 renders conventional lymphocytes resistant to suppressive functions of regulatory T cells through activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway.

IL-15 drives chronic inflammation in several human diseases. We have recently shown that IL-15 inhibits the immunosuppressive effects of TGF-beta through blockage of the Smad3-signaling pathway. Data pointing to reciprocal interactions between TGF-beta and CD4(+) regulatory T cells led us to investigate the impact of IL-15 on the de novo generation and function of regulatory T cells in humans. Our data indicate that IL-15 does not counteract, but rather promotes the effect of TGF-beta on the de novo generation of regulatory T cells (Treg). Thus, in the presence of TGF-beta, IL-15 enhanced the acquisition of regulatory functions by CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells stimulated by anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 Abs. In contrast, IL-15 impaired the functions of Tregs by acting on effector CD4 and CD8 T cells. Accordingly, in the presence of IL-15, proliferation and IFN-gamma production by peripheral CD4 and CD8 T cells could not be efficiently inhibited by Tregs. IL-15-induced resistance of effector T cells to Tregs resulted from activation of the PI3K signaling pathway but did not involve the rescue of effector T cells from apoptosis. Altogether, these data point to the ambiguous role of IL-15 in the control of Treg functions. This dual role may be instrumental to mount rapid but transient proinflammatory immune responses against pathogens but may become deleterious in situations associated with protracted IL-15 over-expression.