Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Originally published in Science Express on 14 May 2009
Science 19 June 2009:
Vol. 324. no. 5934, pp. 1572 - 1576
DOI: 10.1126/science.1175194
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Reports

A Vital Role for Interleukin-21 in the Control of a Chronic Viral Infection

John S. Yi, Ming Du, Allan J. Zajac*

Understanding the factors that regulate the induction, quality, and longevity of antiviral T cell responses is essential for devising rational strategies to prevent or combat infections. In this study, we show that interleukin-21 (IL-21), likely produced by CD4+ T cells, directly influences the generation of polyfunctional CD8+ T cells and that the number of CD4+ T cells that produce IL-21 differs markedly between acute and chronic infections. IL-21 regulates the development of CD8+ T cell exhaustion and the ability to contain chronic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection. Thus, IL-21 serves as a critical helper factor that shapes the functional quality of antiviral CD8+ T cells and is required for viral control.

Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294–2170, USA.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: azajac{at}uab.edu

Read the Full Text


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Endogenous IL-21 Restricts CD8+ T Cell Expansion and Is not Required for Tumor Immunity.
H. Sondergaard, J. M. Coquet, A. P. Uldrich, N. McLaughlin, D. I. Godfrey, P. V. Sivakumar, K. Skak, and M. J. Smyth (2009)
J. Immunol. 183, 7326-7336
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
A Little 'Help' from IL-21 During Persistent Viral Infection.
D. B. McGavern (2009)
J Mol Cell Biol
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
A Chronic Need for IL-21.
L. D. S. Johnson and S. C. Jameson (2009)
Science 324, 1525-1526
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)