Advances of the interleukin‑21 signaling pathway in immunity and angiogenesis (Review)

Yuan,Ming‑Jie; Wang,Tao

doi:10.3892/br.2016.665

Advances of the interleukin‑21 signaling pathway in immunity and angiogenesis (Review)

Authors:
- Ming‑Jie Yuan
- Tao Wang
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Affiliations: Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China, Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
Published online on: April 27, 2016 https://doi.org/10.3892/br.2016.665
Pages: 3-6

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Abstract

Interleukin‑21 (IL‑21) and its receptor (IL‑21R) are broadly expressed on human B cells, activated T cells and other myeloid cells. IL‑21 cooperates with IL‑6 and transforming growth factor‑β to regulate T‑cell differentiation. IL‑21‑mediated human B cell and dendritic cells differentiation requires signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and also induces B‑cell apoptosis dependents on the Toll‑like receptor signal. Recently, in vitro and in vivo experiments showed that IL‑21/IL‑21R regulate angiogenesis through STAT3. IL‑21 signaling pathways are complex due to its cooperation with other transcriptional factors, such as interferon regulatory factor 4 and granulocyte‑macrophage colony‑stimulating factor. The Janus kinase‑STAT pathway has been the most extensively studied. With the increase in the understanding of IL‑21 biology in the context of each specific disease or pathological condition, IL‑21 could be a new therapeutic target for immune‑related disease.

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