title: The role of IL-21 in immunity and cancer.
abstract: Interleukin-21 (IL-21), produced predominantly by CD4+ T cells and natural killer T (NKT) cells, is a newly discovered member of the common γ-chain family of cytokines. It has been implicated in many immunological processes and has been linked to autoimmune diseases, allergies and other inflammatory diseases. In recent years, the role for IL-21 in the pathogenesis of cancer has also been extensively studied. In this review, we will discuss recent advances concerning the role of IL-21 in immunological processes and the pathogenesis of cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Des Moines University, Des Moines, Iowa 50312, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
authors.forename: Ziwen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Des Moines University, Des Moines, Iowa 50312, USA.
authors.forename: Dwayne M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Des Moines University, Des Moines, Iowa 50312, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA. Electronic address: yujiang.fang@dmu.edu.
authors.forename: Yujiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D017209:Apoptosis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002450:Cell Communication; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D015870:Gene Expression; D018858:Germinal Center / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D011878:Radiotherapy; D053655:Receptors, Interleukin-21 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000098546:Interleukin-21
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D053655:Receptors, Interleukin-21; D000098546:Interleukin-21
keywords: Cancer; IL-21; Immune response