Interleukin-21 and the IL-21 receptor: novel effectors of NK and T cell responses

• Published in: Journal of leukocyte biology Vol. 72; no. 5; pp. 856 - 863
• Main Authors: Parrish‐Novak, Julia, Foster, Donald C., Holly, Richard D., Clegg, Christopher H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Society for Leukocyte Biology 01.11.2002
• Subjects: Animals; B-Lymphocytes - immunology; Base Sequence; Chromosome Mapping; Cloning, Molecular; cytolytic T cells; functional cloning; Gene Components; Humans; innate immunity; Interleukin-21 Receptor alpha Subunit; Interleukins - analysis; Interleukins - genetics; Interleukins - physiology; Killer Cells, Natural - immunology; Mice; Molecular Sequence Data; Receptors, Interleukin - analysis; Receptors, Interleukin - genetics; Receptors, Interleukin - physiology; Receptors, Interleukin-21; Signal Transduction; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Tissue Distribution
• ISSN: 0741-5400; 1938-3673
• DOI: 10.1189/jlb.72.5.856

Interleukin (IL)‐21 was recently discovered using a functional cloning approach based on expression of its receptor. It is similar in domain organization and primary sequence to IL‐2 and IL‐15. Like these cytokines, IL‐21 uses the common γ chain of the IL‐2/15 receptor, which forms a heterodimeric receptor complex with IL‐21R. IL‐21 is produced by activated T cells, and it influences proliferation of T and B cells and cytolytic activity of natural killer cells. The elucidation of the unique biological effects of IL‐21 represents an intense area of interest in current cytokine biology.