Interleukin-21: basic biology and implications for cancer and autoimmunity
R Spolski, WJ Leonard - Annu. Rev. Immunol., 2008 - annualreviews.org
Interleukin-21 (IL-21), a potent immunomodulatory four-α-helical-bundle type I cytokine, is
produced by NKT and CD4+ T cells and has pleiotropic effects on both innate and adaptive
immune responses. These actions include positive effects such as enhanced proliferation of
lymphoid cells, increased cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, and
differentiation of B cells into plasma cells. Conversely, IL-21 also has direct inhibitory effects
on the antigen-presenting function of dendritic cells and can be proapoptotic for B cells and …
produced by NKT and CD4+ T cells and has pleiotropic effects on both innate and adaptive
immune responses. These actions include positive effects such as enhanced proliferation of
lymphoid cells, increased cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, and
differentiation of B cells into plasma cells. Conversely, IL-21 also has direct inhibitory effects
on the antigen-presenting function of dendritic cells and can be proapoptotic for B cells and …