title: Therapeutic utility of the newly discovered properties of interleukin-21.
abstract: Since its discovery in 2000, interleukin-21 (IL-21) has been shown to display a broad spectrum of pleiotropic actions including the regulation of development, differentiation and function of lymphoid-myeloid cells. More specifically, IL-21 modulates the effector functions of T, B and NK cells, which not only have key roles in antitumoral and antiviral immunity but also in exerting major effects on inflammatory responses promoting the development of autoimmune diseases. Recent studies have unveiled an unexpected role for IL-21 in immune regulation and de novo T-cell development. While highlighting its critical role in immunity, this review will mainly focus on recent advances in IL-21 biology and how such newly discovered properties could potentially be exploited therapeutically in the establishment of future clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada. Electronic address: edouard_elchamy@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Al-Chami
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada. Electronic address: aurelie.tormo@umontreal.ca.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tormo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khodayarian
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada. Electronic address: fatemeh.khodayarian@umontreal.ca.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rafei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D000098546:Interleukin-21
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D000098546:Interleukin-21
keywords: Hematopoiesis; Immunity; Interleukin-21; Regulatory cells; Signaling; Thymopoiesis