title: Human peripheral neutrophils express functional IL-21 receptors.
abstract: Neutrophils play key roles in the inflammatory response. The IL-21 cytokine and receptor system is known to be involved in various inflammatory diseases. However, the direct action of IL-21 on neutrophils has not been reported. Here, we show that human neutrophils in peripheral blood express functional IL-21 receptors (IL-21Rs). Expression of the IL-21Rα chain (IL-21Rα) was reduced following various treatments to remove red blood cells, including hypotonic shock, ammonium chloride-mediated lysis, and Percoll density centrifugation. Thus, we utilized whole blood flow cytometric assays to investigate the neutrophil responses to IL-21. IL-21 upregulated the surface expression of CD11b and CD16 on neutrophils and augmented the neutrophils' phagocytic ability. Our data indicated that IL-21 has the potential to enhance the neutrophil functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, 2-2-2 Iida-Nishi, Yamagata, 990-9585, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.forename: Hidetoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nara
authors.forename: Akemi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.forename: Hironobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Asao
mesh_terms: D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism*; D053655:Receptors, Interleukin-21 / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D053655:Receptors, Interleukin-21
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