Interleukin-15: a new cytokine target for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. 
Interleukin (IL)-15 is a pleiotropic pro-inflammatory cytokine that is expressed in several inflammatory disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and pulmonary inflammatory diseases.  IL-15 promotes activation of T cells, neutrophils and macrophages, and is critical to dendritic cell function in several model systems.  Recent emerging data suggest that IL-15 may serve as a useful therapeutic target across a range of disease states.  Advances in the past year highlight the beneficial effect of IL-15 neutralisation in models of psoriasis and diabetes.  Further evidence for IL-15 expression and effector function has emerged across a range of rheumatic disorders, including juvenile inflammatory arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and Kawasaki disease.  These data hold promise for therapeutic targeting in ongoing human studies and those in the near future.