title: IL-21 is required for CD4 memory formation in response to viral infection.
abstract: IL-21 has been shown to play an important role in the CD8 T cell response during acute and chronic viral infections. However, the role of IL-21 signaling in the CD4 T cell response to viral infection remains incompletely defined. In a model of infection with vaccinia virus, we show that intrinsic IL-21 signaling on CD4 T cells was critical for the formation of memory CD4 T cells in vivo. We further reveal that IL-21 promoted CD4 T cell survival in a mechanism dependent on activation of the STAT1 and STAT3 signaling pathways. In addition, the activation of Akt is also required for IL-21-dependent survival of CD4 T cells in vivo. These results identify a critical role for intrinsic IL-21 signaling in CD4 T cell survival and memory formation in response to viral infection in vivo and may provide insights into the design of effective vaccine strategies.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, and.
authors.forename: Yuqing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, and.|Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Yiping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, and.
authors.forename: Xiaopei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002470:Cell Survival; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007378:Interleukins / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D057507:Mice, 129 Strain; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000276:immunology; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor / Q000276:immunology; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014615:Vaccinia / Q000276:immunology*; D000098546:Interleukin-21
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494080:Stat1 protein, mouse; C494087:Stat3 protein, mouse; C514862:Akt1 protein, mouse; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D000098546:Interleukin-21