title: Interleukin-21 (IL-21)-mediated pathways in T cell-mediated disease.
abstract: Interleukin-21 (IL-21) is produced mostly by activated CD4+ T cells and controls the differentiation and functional activity of effector T helper cells, counteracts the suppressive effects of regulatory T cells, and stimulates non-immune cells to make inflammatory mediators. IL-21-driven tissue damage has been demonstrated in a number of organs, such as the gut, pancreas, and brain. Therefore new treatment modalities to neutralise IL-21 in vivo would be a valuable addition to the therapeutic armamentarium to combat immune-mediated inflammation. Here we describe the emerging role of IL-21 in the initiation and progress of the tissue-damaging inflammatory response in immune-mediated pathologies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier, 1, 00133, Rome, Italy. Gi.Monteleone@Med.uniroma2.it
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Monteleone
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pallone
authors.forename: Thomas T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Macdonald
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000503:physiopathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology; D007378:Interleukins / Q000502:physiology*; D007422:Intestines / Q000503:physiopathology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000209:etiology; D051379:Mice; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D053655:Receptors, Interleukin-21 / Q000502:physiology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000502:physiology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000098546:Interleukin-21
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D053655:Receptors, Interleukin-21; D000098546:Interleukin-21