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Interleukin-21: A Pleiotropic Mediator of Immunity and Inflammation with Broad Therapeutic Potential

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Abstract

Interleukin-21 (IL-21) is a member of the family of cytokines that share the common cytokine receptor γ-chain, γc. IL-21 plays critical roles in the differentiation and function of multiple lymphoid and myeloid lineages. In this chapter, we review the inflammatory and immunosuppressive activities of this cytokine and the specific mechanisms by which this cytokine regulates both the innate and adaptive immune responses. Despite the fact that IL-21 and its receptor were only identified in 2000, a tremendous amount has been learned already, leading to the development of potential therapeutic approaches to cancer as well as potentially allowing for the specific manipulation of IL-21 effects in a spectrum of autoimmune diseases, allergic responses, and viral infections.

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Acknowledgments

R.S. and W.J.L. are supported by the Division of Intramural Research, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH. R.S. and W.J.L. are inventors on patents related to IL-21. We thank Dr. Jian-Xin Lin for valuable suggestions and critical comments.

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  1. Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 9000 Rockville Pike (Bldg. 10/7B05), Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA

    Rosanne Spolski & Warren J. Leonard

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  1. Rosanne Spolski
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  2. Warren J. Leonard
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Correspondence to Warren J. Leonard .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Immunoregulation Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

    Takayuki Yoshimoto

  2. Institute for Advanced Medical Sciences, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan

    Tomohiro Yoshimoto

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Spolski, R., Leonard, W.J. (2014). Interleukin-21: A Pleiotropic Mediator of Immunity and Inflammation with Broad Therapeutic Potential. In: Yoshimoto, T., Yoshimoto, T. (eds) Cytokine Frontiers. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54442-5_5

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