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IL-21 induces apoptosis of antigen-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes
Brianne R Barker1, Jenny G Parvani, Debra Meyer
1Division of Viral Pathogenesis, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115.
Abstract:
IL-21, a member of the common gamma-chain family of cytokines, has pleiotropic effects on T, B, and NK cells. We found that IL-21 and the prototype common gamma-chain cytokine IL-2 can stimulate proliferation and cytokine secretion by Ag-specific rhesus monkey CD8+ T cells. However, unique among the members of this family of cytokines, we found that IL-21 drives these cells to apoptosis by down-regulation of Bcl-2. These findings suggest that IL-21 may play an important role in the contraction of CD8+ T cell responses.
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