Impaired Interleukin-15 Signaling via Loss Drives Natural Killer Cell Deficiency and Pulmonary Hypertension.

Background: Natural killer (NK) cell impairment is a feature of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and contributes to vascular remodeling in animal models of disease. Although mutations in , the gene encoding the BMP (bone morphogenetic protein) type-II receptor, are strongly associated with PAH, the contribution of loss to NK cell impairment remains unknown. We explored the impairment of IL (interleukin)-15 signaling, a central mediator of NK cell homeostasis, as both a downstream target of loss and a contributor to the pathogenesis of PAH.

Methods: The expression, trafficking, and secretion of IL-15 and IL-15Rα (interleukin 15 α-type receptor) were assessed in human pulmonary artery endothelial cells, with or without silencing. NK cell development and IL-15/IL-15Rα levels were quantified in mice bearing a heterozygous knock-in of the mutation (). NK-deficient rats were exposed to the Sugen/hypoxia and monocrotaline models of PAH to assess the impact of impaired IL-15 signaling on disease severity.

Results: loss reduced IL-15Rα surface presentation and secretion in human pulmonary artery endothelial cells via impaired trafficking through the trans-Golgi network. mice exhibited a decrease in NK cells, which was not attributable to impaired hematopoietic development but was instead associated with reduced IL-15/IL-15Rα levels in these animals. rats of both sexes exhibited enhanced disease severity in the Sugen/hypoxia model, with only male rats developing more severe PAH in response to monocrotaline.

Conclusions: This work identifies the loss of IL-15 signaling as a novel -dependent contributor to NK cell impairment and pulmonary vascular disease.