Interleukin 15 (IL-15) and IL-2, which promote the survival of memory CD8(+) T cells and regulatory T cells, respectively, bind receptor complexes that share beta- and gamma-signaling subunits. Receptor specificity is provided by unique, nonsignaling alpha-subunits. Whereas IL-2 receptor-alpha (IL-2Ralpha) is expressed together in cis with the beta- and gamma-subunits on T cells and B cells, IL-15Ralpha is expressed in trans on antigen-presenting cells. Here we present a 1.85-A crystal structure of the human IL-15-IL-15Ralpha complex. The structure provides insight into the molecular basis of the specificity of cytokine recognition and emphasizes the importance of water in generating this very high-affinity complex. Despite very low IL-15-IL-2 sequence homology and distinct receptor architecture, the topologies of the IL-15-IL-15Ralpha and IL-2-IL-2Ralpha complexes are very similar. Our data raise the possibility that IL-2, like IL-15, might be capable of being presented in trans in the context of its unique receptor alpha-chain.

The SUVmax of the primary tumour derived from PET/CT imaging could be an important prognostic indicator of recurrence and survival in patients with endometrial cancer.

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Some experiments are carried out in order to clarify the reason why the electrode prepared by coating a platinum disk with a non-plasticized membrane of polyacrylaminde polymer (PAA) coupled to cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) shows such a Nernstian response and a special selectivity for fluoride and cyanide ions in acetonitrile (AN). Special interactions between the ions and CoPc are observed spectrophotometrically. A complexing ability of the CoPc with only fluoride and cyanide ions works to respond in a Nernstian way for the ions at the electrode. Since the electrode shows quite poor response to chloride and bromide ions it can be understood that an ion exchange reaction of the ions in the solution at CoPc does not function to the response of the electrode. Furthermore, the PAA matrix of the membrane is found to produce the electrochemical masking effect on chloride and bromide ions. The PAA–CoPc electrode is confirmed as available for use of determining the solubility product constant of sodium fluoride in AN.