title: The role of interleukin-21 in HIV infection.
abstract: Interleukin (IL)-21 is one of a group of cytokines including IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9 and IL-15 whose receptor complexes share the common γ chain (γ(c)). Secretion of IL-21 is restricted mainly to T follicular helper (TFH) CD4 T cell subset with contributions from Th17, natural killer (NK) T cells, but the effects of IL-21 are pleiotropic, owing to the broad cellular distribution of the IL-21 receptor. The role of IL-21 in sustaining and regulating T cell, B cell and NK cell responses during chronic viral infections has recently come into focus. This chapter reviews current knowledge about the biology of IL-21 in the context of HIV infection.
authors: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, United States.
authors: Suresh
authors: S
authors: Pallikkuth
authors: Anita
authors: A
authors: Parmigiani
authors: Savita
authors: S
authors: Pahwa
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D053655:Receptors, Interleukin-21 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000098546:Interleukin-21
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D053655:Receptors, Interleukin-21; D000098546:Interleukin-21