title: Interleukin-21 in T cell-mediated diseases.
abstract: Interleukin-21 (IL-21), a cytokine produced by activated CD4+ T cells, activated natural killer T cells, and T follicular cells, has been reported to play a crucial role in the tissue-damaging T cell response in various organs, such as gut, skin, pancreas, and joints. This pathogenic effect is strictly linked to the ability of IL-21 to enhance the functional activities of multiple immune and non-immune cells. Consistently, studies from various laboratories have shown that blockade of IL-21 limits the progression of T cell-mediated inflammatory diseases in mice. Here we review the present knowledge on the expression and role of IL-21 in T cell-mediated pathologies.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome 00133, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Monteleone
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sarra
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pallone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007378:Interleukins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000098546:Interleukin-21
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D000098546:Interleukin-21