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Updated: Mar 21, 2026

Visualization of IL-22-expressing Lymphocytes Using Reporter Mice
Published on: January 25, 2017
[Roles of interleukin-21 and its receptor in autoimmune diseases]
1Department of pediatric Cardiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China. hanbo35@163.com.
Abstract:
Interleukin-21 (IL-21) is a new member of the interleukin-2 family. It is mainly synthesized and secreted by the activated of CD4(+) T cells and natural killer T cells. IL-21 receptor (IL-21R) is mainly expressed in T cells, B cells, and natural killer (NK) cells. After binding to its receptor, IL-21 can regulate the activation and proliferation of T cells, B cells, and NK cells through activating JAKs-STATs signaling pathways. As a new immunoregulatory factor, IL-21 and its receptor play important roles in the development and progression of various autoimmune diseases. Regulation of the expression levels of IL-21 and IL-21R and blocking of their signal transduction pathways with blockers may be new treatment options for autoimmune diseases.
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