title: Role of IL-21 signaling pathway in transplant-related biology.
abstract: Since pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-21 and its receptor (IL-21R) are closely involved in regulating both innate and adaptive immune responses, it is conceivable that they may play important roles in the field of organ transplantation. IL-21/IL21-R regulates immune activities of CD8+ T cells, Tfh cells, Th17 cells, B cells, NK cells, dendritic cells and stimulates dendritic cells to produce high level of IL-6, TNF-alpha, and CCL2. However, their roles and underlying mechanisms remain obscure. Our present study is the first describing the role of IL-21 signaling pathway in transplant biology. It was found that IL-21/IL-21R signaling pathways contribute to the processes of ischemia/reperfusion and acute rejection of liver or kidney transplantation. IL-21 is capable of regulating B cell function and immunoglobulin production, driving CD8+ T cell expansion, regulating Th17 and dendritic cell function. Deficiency of IL-21 may cause autoimmunity and infectious disease in clinical-scenario patients. It is known that CD8+ T cells, Th17, and dendritic cells are closely involved in cardiac transplant tolerance. Our own original experimental research on mouse cardiac transplantation manifested that allograft survival could be significantly prolonged in the IL-21R deficient recipients. All these can deepen our understanding of immunobiological role of IL-21 and its receptor in the field of transplantation. Intervention of IL-21 signaling pathway may apparently regulate immunoresponses in vivo, which can be subsequently utilized as a therapeutic strategy in clinic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Transplant International Research Centre (TIRC), Second Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou City, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Transplant International Research Centre (TIRC), Second Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou City, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Risheng
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Que
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Transplant International Research Centre (TIRC), Second Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou City, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Baoqing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Mingming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Transplant Center, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jinzhen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Transplant International Research Centre (TIRC), Second Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou City, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Dawei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shou
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Transplant International Research Centre (TIRC), Second Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou City, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Center for Stem Cell and Translational Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei City, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Dahai
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Transplant International Research Centre (TIRC), Second Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou City, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Transplant International Research Centre (TIRC), Second Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou City, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: liangtingbo@zju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Tingbo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Transplant International Research Centre (TIRC), Second Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou City, People's Republic of China; Transplant Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA. Electronic address: weihua.gong@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Weihua
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006085:Graft Survival; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D023001:Transplantation Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D000098546:Interleukin-21
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D000098546:Interleukin-21