A little 'help' from IL-21 during persistent viral infection.
Anti-viral CD4(+) T cells are required to orchestrate and sustain the activities of the adaptive immune system during a persistent viral infection. Three recent studies suggest that CD4(+) T cells accomplish this in part through the release of IL-21.
McGavern
Dorian B
DB
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, The National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. mcgavernd@mail.nih.gov
D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008216:Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D008217:Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D000098546:Interleukin-21
D007378:Interleukins; D000098546:Interleukin-21