Recombinant human IL-15 protein

    QK097

    Brand: Qkine

    Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine which regulates immune responses. Recombinant IL-15 promotes the growth and activation of T-cells and B cells and is essential in the development, survival and activation of NK cells. IL-15 can also promote conversion of monocytes into dendritic cells.

    Qkine has optimized the IL-15 manufacture process to produce a highly bioactive protein with excellent lot-to-lot consistency for enhanced experimental reproducibility. Qkine IL-15 is a highly pure 12.9 kDa monomer, animal origin-free (AOF) and carrier-protein-free (CF).

    Recombinant human IL-15 protein

    Currency: 

    Product name Catalog number Pack size Price Price (USD) Price (GBP) Price (EUR)
    Recombinant human IL-15 protein, 25 µg QK097-0025 25 µg (select above) $ 438 £ 320 € 374
    Recombinant human IL-15 protein, 50 µg QK097-0050 50 µg (select above) $ 645 £ 470 € 549
    Recombinant human IL-15 protein,100 µg QK097-0100 100 µg (select above) $ 840 £ 615 € 719
    Recombinant human IL-15 protein, 500 µg QK097-0500 500 µg (select above) $ 3465 £ 2530 € 2956
    Recombinant human IL-15 protein, 1000 µg QK097-1000 1000 µg (select above) $ 5426 £ 3960 € 4626

    Note: prices shown do not include shipping and handling charges.

    Qkine company name and logo are the property of Qkine Ltd. UK.

    Summary

    • High purity human IL-15 protein (Uniprot number: P40933)
    • 12.9 kDa (monomer)
    • >98%, by SDS-PAGE quantitative densitometry
    • Expressed in E. coli
    • Animal origin-free (AOF) and carrier protein-free
    • Manufactured in our Cambridge, UK laboratories
    • Lyophilized from acetonitrile, TFA
    • Resuspend in 10 mM HCl (Reconstitution solution A) at >50 µg/ml, add carrier protein if desired, prepare single-use aliquots and store frozen at -20 °C (short-term) or -80 °C (long-term)
    Handling and Storage FAQ

    Featured applications

    • Development, survival, and function of T cells
    • Development and formation of NK cells
    • Development and formation of B cells
    • Differentiation of myeloid cells into dendritic cells
    • Hematopoietic stem cell research 

    Bioactivity

    Recombinant IL-15 activity was determined using Promega IL-15 Bioassay Kit (JA2011). Cells were treated in triplicate with a serial dilution of IL-15 for 6 hours. Activity was measured using Bio-Glo™ Reagent and readings normalized to the maximum response. Data from Qk097 lot #204728. EC50 = 83.4 pg/ml (6.47 pM).

    Qk097-IL-15-Datasheet-graph-2025

     

    Purity

    Recombinant IL-15 migrates as a band at approximately 12 kDa (monomer) in reduced (R) and 9 kDa in non-reduced (NR) conditions. No contaminating protein bands are present. The purified recombinant protein 3 µg was resolved using 15% w/v SDS-PAGE in reduced (+β-mercaptoethanol, R) and non-reduced (NR) conditions and stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue R250. Data from Qk097 lot #204728.

    IL15-gel-1024x1024

     

    Further quality assays

    • Mass spectrometry: single species with expected mass
    • Recovery from stock vial:  >95%
    • Endotoxin: <0.005 EU/μg protein (below level of detection)

    Protein background

    Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine expressed in a large variety of tissues and cell types including epithelial cells, fibroblasts, keratinocytes, nerve cells, monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells [1]. IL-15 shares many biological properties with IL-2, despite not having sequence homology, as it interacts with components of the IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) [1, 2]. IL-15 induces the activation of JAK kinases, as well as the phosphorylation and activation of transcription activators STAT3, STAT5, and STAT6 [2].

    Recombinant IL-15 stimulates the proliferation and activation of multiple T cell subsets including NK, NKT, Th17, Treg, and CD8+ memory cells [3]. IL-15 is also essential for NK cell development and can be used for the development of NK cells from hematopoietic progenitor cells [4,5].

    IL-15 has been shown to play a role in several inflammatory disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and pulmonary inflammatory diseases. Emerging data suggest that IL-15 may serve as a good therapeutic target, as there appears to be a beneficial effect of IL-15 neutralization in models of psoriasis and diabetes. IL-15 has also been implicated in both the development and treatment of cancers [1]. Recombinant IL-15 can also be used for the preconditioning of CAR T cells or for engineering cells to express IL-15 in vivo [6].

     

    Background references

    1. Mishra A, Sullivan L, Caligiuri MA. Molecular pathways: interleukin-15 signaling in health and in cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2014 Apr 15;20(8):2044-50. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-12-3603. PMID: 24737791

    2. Carson WE, Giri JG, Lindemann MJ, Linett ML, Ahdieh M, Paxton R, Anderson D, Eisenmann J, Grabstein K, Caligiuri MA. Interleukin (IL) 15 is a novel cytokine that activates human natural killer cells via components of the IL-2 receptor. J Exp Med. 1994 Oct 1;180(4):1395-403. doi: 10.1084/jem.180.4.1395

    3. Lee H, Park SH, Shin EC. IL-15 in T-Cell Responses and Immunopathogenesis. Immune Netw. 2024 Feb 16;24(1):e11. doi: 10.4110/in.2024.24.e11

    4. Cooper MA, Bush JE, Fehniger TA, VanDeusen JB, Waite RE, Liu Y, Aguila HL, Caligiuri MA. In vivo evidence for a dependence on interleukin 15 for survival of natural killer cells. Blood. 2002 Nov 15;100(10):3633-8. doi: 10.1182/blood-2001-12-0293

    5. Mrózek E, Anderson P, Caligiuri MA. Role of interleukin-15 in the development of human CD56+ natural killer cells from CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells. Blood. 1996 Apr 1;87(7):2632-40. PMID: 8639878

    6. Srivastava S, Furlan SN, Jaeger-Ruckstuhl CA, Sarvothama M, Berger C, Smythe KS, Garrison SM, Specht JM, Lee SM, Amezquita RA, Voillet V, Muhunthan V, Yechan-Gunja S, Pillai SPS, Rader C, Houghton AM, Pierce RH, Gottardo R, Maloney DG, Riddell SR. Immunogenic Chemotherapy Enhances Recruitment of CAR-T Cells to Lung Tumors and Improves Antitumor Efficacy when Combined with Checkpoint Blockade. Cancer Cell. 2021 Feb 8;39(2):193-208.e10. doi: 10.1016/j.ccell.2020.11.005

    FAQ

    What is IL-15?
    IL-15 is an inflammatory cytokine.

    Where is IL-15 found?
    IL-15 is a soluble protein found in blood and tissues.

    What cells secrete IL-15?
    IL-15 is secreted primarily by dendritic cells, monocytes, and epithelial cells

    What cells respond to IL-15?
    IL-15 binds to and activates CD8+ T cells, NKT cells, γδT cells, and NK cells.

    Is IL-15 a cytokine?
    Yes, Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a pleiotropic cytokine belonging to the common gamma-chain (γc) cytokine family, which also includes IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, and IL-21.

    What does the IL-15 gene do?
    The IL15 gene is localized on chromosome 4q31 and codes for interleukin-15 (IL-15), a widely expressed pro-inflammatory cytokine.

    What is the function of the IL-15 receptor?
    IL-15RA is expressed on the surface of activated and memory CD8+ T cells, it plays an important role in innate and adaptive immunity.

    What cells express the IL-15 receptor?
    The IL-15 receptor consists of the IL-2Rβ and γc subunits in association with a unique ligand-specific subunit, IL-15Rα, IL-15Rα is expressed by lymphoid cells, DC, fibroblasts, epithelial, liver, intestine, and other cells.

    What is the IL-15 signaling pathway?
    IL-15 induces the activation of JAK kinases, as well as the phosphorylation and activation of transcription activators STAT3, STAT5, and STAT6.

    How is recombinant IL-15 used in cell culture?
    IL-15 induces or enhances the differentiation, maintenance, or activation of multiple T cell subsets including NK, NKT, Th17, Treg, and CD8+ memory cells. It can also be used to develop monocytes into dendritic cells.