title: The role of IL-21 in hematological malignancies.
abstract: IL-21, the newest member of the common γ-chain family of cytokines, has pleiotropic biological effects through regulating a variety of immune cells. Recently, the role of IL-21 in the treatment of cancers has been widely investigated. Conducted phase I trials in metastatic malignant melanoma and renal cell carcinoma have shown that rIL-21 has a favorable antitumor activity. Expression of IL-21 and IL-21R has also been found in many types of hematological malignancies, such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), multiple myeloma (MM) and lymphoma. Through binding with IL-21R, IL-21 induces activation of different JAK/STAT signal transduction pathways and regulates proliferation or apoptosis of tumor cells. In this review, we will discuss the expression of IL-21/IL-21R and its effect in different types of hematological malignancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 107 West Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong, PR China. mj_365@163.com
authors.forename: Jingjing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Daoxin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Chunyan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ji
mesh_terms: D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D009154:Mutation; D000098546:Interleukin-21
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D000098546:Interleukin-21