IL-21–Producing Th Cells in Immunity and Autoimmunity

IL-21 is a member of the common γ-chain signaling family of cytokines. Analyses of the behavior of immune cells in response to IL-21 in vitro and studies of mice deficient in IL-21 or its receptor indicate that IL-21 has a role in lymphocyte activation, proliferation, differentiation, and survival. IL-21-producing CD4(+) Th cells constitute a broad array of helper subtypes including T follicular helper cells and Th17 cells. Both autocrine and paracrine utilization of IL-21 contributes to the overall signal transduction pathways of the Ag receptor to influence the growth and survival of lymphocytes. The redundancy that IL-21 exhibits in lymphoid organs during immune responses is in stark contrast to the evidence that pharmacological neutralization of this cytokine can halt inflammation in nonlymphoid organs where IL-21 becomes the dominant voice.