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Updated: Jul 8, 2026
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Visualization of IL-22-expressing Lymphocytes Using Reporter Mice
Published on: January 25, 2017
Interleukin-21 (IL-21) controls inflammatory pathways in the gut
Daniele Fina1, Roberta Caruso, Francesco Pallone
1Cattedra di Gastroenterologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Università Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier, 1, 00133 - Rome, Italy.
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders Drug Targets
|January 29, 2008
Summary
Interleukin-21 (IL-21) drives inflammation in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis by activating immune cells and promoting tissue damage. Targeting IL-21 may offer a new therapeutic strategy for inflammatory bowel diseases.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Gastroenterology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), involve aberrant immune responses to gut bacteria.
- Cytokines mediate cross-talk between immune and non-immune cells, contributing to tissue damage in IBD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Interleukin-21 (IL-21) in the pathogenesis of CD and UC.
- To explore IL-21 as a potential therapeutic target for IBD.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of IL-21 production in inflamed tissues from IBD patients.
- Investigating IL-21's effects on fibroblast and epithelial cell function.
Main Results:
- Elevated IL-21 levels were observed in CD and UC tissues.
- IL-21 promotes Th1 inflammation in CD and stimulates fibroblasts and epithelial cells in UC.
- IL-21 induces extracellular matrix degradation and T cell chemoattractant secretion.
Conclusions:
- IL-21 is a key mediator of chronic inflammation in both CD and UC.
- IL-21 plays diverse roles in IBD pathogenesis beyond Th1 responses.
- IL-21 represents a promising therapeutic target for inflammatory bowel diseases.
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