title: Role of IL-21 and IL-21 receptor on B cells in HIV infection.
abstract: Interleukin (IL)-21 is a member of a family of cytokines that includes IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, and IL-15, all of which utilize a common γ chain in their individual receptor complexes for delivering intracellular signals in their target cells. IL-21 is produced by CD4+ T-cells, in particular follicular T-helper cells, and is critically important in the regulation and maintenance of T cells and B cells in innate and adaptive immunity. The effects of IL-21 are pleiotropic because of the broad cellular distribution of the IL-21 receptor, and it plays a critical role in T cell-dependent and -independent human B cell differentiation for generating humoral immune responses. This article reviews the current knowledge about the importance of IL-21 and IL-21 receptor interaction in human B cell responses, immune defects of B cells and IL-21 in HIV infection, and the potential applicability of IL-21 in vaccines/immunotherapeutic approaches to augment relevant immune responses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33136, USA.
authors.forename: Suresh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pallikkuth
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parmigiani
authors.forename: Savita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pahwa
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007378:Interleukins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053655:Receptors, Interleukin-21 / Q000276:immunology*; D000098546:Interleukin-21
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D053655:Receptors, Interleukin-21; D000098546:Interleukin-21