IL-21 and IL-21 receptor in the immunopathogenesis of multiple sclerosis |
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| Authors: | Ghasem Ghalamfarsa Mahmoud Mahmoudi Mousa Mohammadnia-Afrouzi Yaghoub Yazdani Enayat Anvari Abolghasem Hadinia |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran;2. Immunology Research Center, Department of Immunology and Allergy, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran;3. Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran;4. Infectious Diseases Research Center and Laboratory Science Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran;5. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran |
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| 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). |
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| Keywords: | Interleukin (IL)-21 IL-21 receptor multiple sclerosis pathogenesis |
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