title: A pathogenetic role for IL-21 in primary Sjögren syndrome.
abstract: Advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis of primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS) characterize it as a highly complex process encompassing both the initiation of innate immunity and subsequent adaptive immune responses. IL-21 is receiving attention as a potential key player in the pathogenesis of pSS owing to its pleiotropic effects on the type I interferon signalling pathway, and newly identified roles in generation of follicular and IL-17-producing subtypes of helper T cells, as well as plasma-cell differentiation and B-cell activation. Taking into consideration the diverse biological functions of IL-21 and its clinical relevance to pSS, we propose that this cytokine has a central role in orchestrating the complex immune response in pSS. This hypothesis might provide new insight into the pathogenesis of pSS and facilitate the development of effective therapeutic strategies.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-Gu, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Ki
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kwok
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-Gu, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Molecular Immunomodulation, School of Biomedical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: Di
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-Gu, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kwi Young
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: The Rheumatism Research Centre, Catholic Research Institute of Medical Science, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-Gu, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Mi-La
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, 120-1 Neungdong-ro, Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 143-729, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hae-Rim
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-Gu, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Hyeon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, 120-1 Neungdong-ro, Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 143-729, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Heon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-Gu, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Konkuk University Medical Centre, 120-1 Neungdong-ro, Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 143-729, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ho-Youn
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007378:Interleukins / Q000276:immunology*; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D000098546:Interleukin-21
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D000098546:Interleukin-21