IL-21 and IL-21 receptor in the immunopathogenesis of multiple sclerosis
Ghasem Ghalamfarsa1, Mahmoud Mahmoudi2, Mousa Mohammadnia-Afrouzi3
1a Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences , Yasuj , Iran ;
Abstract:
Cytokines are considered important factors in the modulation of various immune responses. Among them, interleukin (IL)-21 is one of the major immune modulators, adjusting various immune responses by affecting various immune cells. It has been suggested that IL-21 may enhance autoimmunity through different mechanisms, such as development and activation of helper T (TH)-17 and follicular helper T (TFH) cells, activation of natural killer (NK) cells, enhancing B-cell differentiation and antibody secretion and suppression of regulatory T (Treg) cells. Moreover, IL-21 has also been suggested to be an inducer of autoimmunity when following treatment of MS patients with some therapeutics such as alemtuzumab. This review will seek to clarify the precise role of IL-21/IL-21R in the pathogenesis of MS and, in its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).
Related Concept Videos
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway
T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...


