Interleukin-21 in cancer immunotherapy: Friend or foe?
Interleukin (IL)-21, a cytokine produced by activated conventional CD4+ T lymphocytes and Natural Killer T cells, drives anti-tumor immunity in the skin and kidney. However IL-21 is also pro-inflammatory in many tissues and promotes colitis-associated colon cancer. Understanding the biology of IL-21 in these different situations is needed to ensure maximal therapeutic benefit.
Department of Internal Medicine; University of Tor Vergata; Rome, Italy.
Carmine
C
Stolfi
Francesco
F
Pallone
Thomas T
TT
Macdonald
Giovanni
G
Monteleone