title: IL-21 and T Cell Differentiation: Consider the Context.
abstract: Accumulating studies demonstrate that IL-21 modulates the differentiation of various CD4 and CD8 T cell subsets and provide insights into the underlying cellular and molecular processes that are influenced by this cytokine. Intriguingly, the effects of IL-21 on T cells can be complex and vary depending on the experimental system used. We review our current understanding of the roles of IL-21 in the generation of phenotypically distinct CD4 and CD8 T cell populations and discuss the potential environmental cues, cellular factors, and molecular mediators that impact the actions of IL-21. We propose that IL-21 acts in a context-dependent manner to accentuate T cell subset development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-2170, USA.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-2170, USA. Electronic address: azajac@uab.edu.
authors.forename: Allan J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Zajac
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D000098546:Interleukin-21
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D000098546:Interleukin-21