Abstract |
Interleukin-21 (IL-21) is a member of the common γ-chain cytokines with broad pleiotropic actions that affects different immune and nonimmune cells. IL-21 can affect differentiation, proliferation and function of T and B cells; it can also induce the maturation and enhance the cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells and Natural killer (NK) cells. IL-21 exerts major effects on B-cell activation and differentiation or apoptosis during humoral immune responses and induces differentiation of naïve B cells and memory B cells into plasma cells. IL-21 also affects different subtypes of T cells including T helper-17 (TH17), T follicular helper (TFH) and regulatory T (Treg) cells and thereby promotes the development of autoimmune disorders and inflammatory diseases. Observations have shown that the blockade of IL-21 has therapeutic effects on various autoimmune diseases in animal models. A better understanding of the regulation of cell differentiation and stabilization by IL-21 in the context of each specific autoimmune disease or tissue-specific pathological microenvironments will be helpful in developing novel treatments to control autoimmune diseases. Herein, we review the biological effects of IL-21 on different immune cells and uncover the emerging role of this interesting cytokine in autoimmune diseases.
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Authors | Tohid Gharibi, Jafar Majidi, Tohid Kazemi, Rashedeh Dehghanzadeh, Morteza Motallebnezhad, Zohreh Babaloo |
Journal | Immunobiology
(Immunobiology)
Vol. 221
Issue 2
Pg. 357-67
(Feb 2016)
ISSN: 1878-3279 [Electronic] Netherlands |
PMID | 26466984
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
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Copyright | Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier GmbH. |
Chemical References |
- Immunologic Factors
- Interleukins
- interleukin-21
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Topics |
- Animals
- Autoimmune Diseases
(genetics, immunology, pathology)
- B-Lymphocyte Subsets
(drug effects, immunology, pathology)
- Cell Differentiation
- Clinical Trials as Topic
- Dendritic Cells
(drug effects, immunology, pathology)
- Disease Models, Animal
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Humans
- Immunologic Factors
(therapeutic use)
- Interleukins
(antagonists & inhibitors, genetics, immunology, pharmacology)
- Killer Cells, Natural
(drug effects, immunology, pathology)
- Lymphocyte Activation
- Plasma Cells
(drug effects, immunology, pathology)
- T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer
(drug effects, immunology, pathology)
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
(drug effects, immunology, pathology)
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