Abstract
Interleukin (IL)-21 is one of a group of cytokines including IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9 and IL-15 whose receptor complexes share the common γ chain (γc). Secretion of IL-21 is restricted mainly to T follicular helper (TFH) CD4 T cell subset with contributions from Th17, natural killer (NK) T cells, but the effects of IL-21 are pleiotropic, owing to the broad cellular distribution of the IL-21 receptor. The role of IL-21 in sustaining and regulating T cell, B cell and NK cell responses during chronic viral infections has recently come into focus. This chapter reviews current knowledge about the biology of IL-21 in the context of HIV infection.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 173-180 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Cytokine and Growth Factor Reviews |
Volume | 23 |
Issue number | 4-5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 2012 |
Keywords
- HIV and IL-21
- IL-21 and B cells
- IL-21 and immunity
- IL-21 and T cells
- Immunomodulation by IL-21
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
- Immunology and Allergy
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)