The role of interleukin-21 in HIV infection

Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 2012 Aug-Oct;23(4-5):173-80. doi: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2012.05.004. Epub 2012 Jul 2.

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 (γ(c)). 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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • B-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • HIV Infections / metabolism
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-21
  • Interleukins / immunology*
  • Interleukins / metabolism
  • Interleukins / therapeutic use
  • Killer Cells, Natural / drug effects
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Receptors, Interleukin-21 / immunology
  • Receptors, Interleukin-21 / metabolism

Substances

  • Interleukins
  • Receptors, Interleukin-21
  • Interleukin-21