IL-17-producing CD4+ T cells (Th17 cells) have well-described pathogenic roles in tissue inflammation and autoimmune diseases, such as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE); however, the involvement of IL-21 in these processes has remained controversial. While IL-21 is an essential autocrine amplification factor for differentiation of Th17 cells, the loss of IL-21 or IL-21 receptor (I...

In the present study, adenovirus-mediated interleukin 21 (Ad5-IL-21-EGFP) gene expression was induced in Hepa1-6 cells to investigate whether IL-21 was capable of enhancing antitumor immunity and reducing tumorigenicity of Hepa1-6 in a mouse model. Mice were inoculated intradermally into the right flank with Hepa1-6 cells or Hepa1-6 cells infected with Ad5 or Ad5-IL-21. Four weeks later, the mi...

IL-21 is a cytokine that can promote the anti-tumor responses of the innate and adaptive immune system. Mice treated with IL-21 reject tumor cells more efficiently, and a higher percentage of mice remain tumor-free compared with untreated controls. In this study, we demonstrate that in certain tumor models IL-21-enhanced tumor rejection is NKG2D dependent. When engagement of the NKG2D receptor ...

INTRODUCTION Interleukin (IL)-21 is a member of type I cytokine family. Recent studies indicate that IL-21 can promote T follicular helper (Tfh) cell differentiation and survival, a specialized T cell subset which provides help for B cell. It can also regulate the activation, proliferation and differentiation of human B cell and immunoglobulin (Ig) production as well as isotype switching of pla...