title: Role of IL-21 in inflammatory bowel disease.
abstract: IL-21 was first described as a critical regulator of T- and B-cell functions. More recently, it has become apparent that IL-21 controls the activity of both immune and nonimmune cells and, depending on the timing and context analyzed, it can promote either inflammatory or counter-regulatory effects. IL-21 participates in the immune responses against tumor cells and chronic viral infections, but excessive production of IL-21 has been associated with the development of immune-inflammatory diseases in various organs. In this article, we focus on data supporting the pathogenic role of IL-21 in human inflammatory bowel diseases and discuss preclinical studies that suggest that neutralization of IL-21 in vivo could be a new strategy to counteract the inflammatory bowel disease-related, tissue damaging immune response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy. pallone@med.uniroma2.it
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pallone
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fina
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Monteleone
mesh_terms: D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000098546:Interleukin-21
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D000098546:Interleukin-21