Interleukin-15 correlates with cytotoxic immune networks in cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis - Summary - MDSpire

Interleukin-15 correlates with cytotoxic immune networks in cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis

  • By

  • Soumaya Bchiri

  • Khadija Bahrini

  • Rosane M. B. Teles

  • Ameni Ben Alaya

  • Houssem Eddine Kamel

  • Julie West

  • Kimia Rategh

  • Asma Bouzekri

  • Eya Bousalem

  • Rim Ouni

  • Meriem Fassatoui

  • Helmi Mardassi

  • Neira Dekhil

  • Issam Ben Belghith

  • Rym Lahiani

  • Emna Romdhane

  • Meriem Ben-Ali

  • Soumaya Rammeh

  • Asma Ferjani

  • Mamia Ben-Saleh

  • Mohamed-Ridha Barbouche

  • Robert L. Modlin

  • Chaouki Benabdessalem

  • June 3, 2026

  • 0 min

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Objective:

To define the cytokine networks coordinating cytotoxic lymphocyte responses in cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis (CTL) and their significance in disease management.

Key Findings:
  • CTL exhibited a structured cytotoxic immune program enriched for granulysin, granzyme B, perforin, IFN-γ, and CCL5 (p-values: <0.0001).
  • IL-15 was identified as a highly connected hub within the cytotoxic module in CTL.
  • IL-15 transcripts were significantly elevated in both blood and lymph node compartments (p = 0.0003; p = 0.0007, respectively).
  • Circulating IL-15 concentrations were higher in CTL compared to CNTL (p < 0.0001) and correlated with bacillary burden.
  • IL-15 and IL-15Rα were expressed in CD68+ macrophages within granulomatous regions.
Interpretation:

IL-15 may play a central role in organizing cytotoxic immune pathways in CTL, with its linked immune signatures providing insights into CTL immunopathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets.

Limitations:
  • The study is limited to a specific population and may not be generalizable; potential biases in patient selection should be considered.
  • Further research is needed to fully understand the role of IL-15 in CTL and to validate these findings in larger cohorts.
Conclusion:

IL-15 is a potential central organizer of cytotoxic immune pathways in CTL, highlighting its importance in understanding CTL immunopathogenesis and the need for further research.

Original Source(s)

Interleukin-15 correlates with cytotoxic immune networks in cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis

  • by Soumaya Bchiri, Khadija Bahrini, Rosane M. B. Teles, Ameni Ben Alaya, Houssem Eddine Kamel, Julie West, Kimia Rategh, Asma Bouzekri, Eya Bousalem, Rim Ouni, Meriem Fassatoui, Helmi Mardassi, Neira Dekhil, Issam Ben Belghith, Rym Lahiani, Emna Romdhane, Meriem Ben-Ali, Soumaya Rammeh, Asma Ferjani, Mamia Ben-Saleh, Mohamed-Ridha Barbouche, Robert L. Modlin, Chaouki Benabdessalem

  • June 3, 2026

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