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IL-21 Signaling Pathways and their Primary Biological Effects in Different Immune Cell Types

Click on one of the links shown in the Explore Pathways box below to see either the IL-21 signaling pathways or information related to one of the other common cytokine receptor gamma-chain family members.

IL-21
IL-21
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IL-21 R
IL-21 R
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CXCR5
CXCR5
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IL-21
IL-21
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IL-21 R
IL-21 R
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CXCR5
CXCR5
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CXCR5
CXCR5
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CXCR5
CXCR5
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Promotes Follicular Helper T Cell Generation
& Germinal Center Formation
Promotes Follicular Helper T Cell Generation
& Germinal Center Formation
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B Cell
B Cell
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Activated
CD4+ T Cell
Activated
CD4+ T Cell
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Developing Germinal Center
Developing Germinal Center
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Centrocyte
Centrocyte
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Tfh Cell
Tfh Cell
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Plasma Cell
Plasma Cell
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Memory B Cell
Memory B Cell
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Follicular Helper T Cell Differentiation

Follicular Helper T Cell Differentiation

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IL-6
IL-6
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IL-6 R
IL-6 R
TGF-beta
TGF-beta
TGF-beta R
TGF-beta R
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STAT3
STAT3
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IL-21
IL-21
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IL-23 R
IL-23 R
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ROR gamma t
ROR gamma t
IL-21
IL-21
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IL-1 beta
IL-1 beta
IL-23
IL-23
IL-21 R
IL-21 R
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STAT3
STAT3
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ROR gamma t
ROR gamma t
IL-17A, F
IL-17A, F
IL-22
IL-22
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Promotes Th17 Differentiation
Promotes Th17 Differentiation
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Dendritic Cell
Dendritic Cell
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Naive T Cell
Naive T Cell
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Differentiating T Cell
Differentiating T Cell
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Th17 Cell
Th17 Cell
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Th17 Differentiation

Th17 Differentiation

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IL-21
IL-21
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IL-21 R
IL-21 R
IFN-gamma
IFN-gamma
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IL-21
IL-21
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IL-21 R
IL-21 R
IFN-gamma
IFN-gamma
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IL-21
IL-21
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IL-21 R
IL-21 R
Granzyme B
Granzyme B
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Enhances Cytotoxicity of CD8+ T Cells,
Natural Killer Cells &
Natural Killer T Cells
Enhances Cytotoxicity of CD8+ T Cells,
Natural Killer Cells &
Natural Killer T Cells
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Activated
CD8+ T Cell
Activated
CD8+ T Cell
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Proliferation
Proliferation
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Perforin Production
Perforin Production
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Natural Killer Cell
Natural Killer Cell
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Perforin Production
Perforin Production
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Granular Morphology
Granular Morphology
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Natural Killer T Cell
Natural Killer T Cell
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Granular Morphology
Granular Morphology
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Increased Cytotoxicity

Increased Cytotoxicity

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IL-21
IL-21
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IL-21 R
IL-21 R
IL-4 R
IL-4 R
IL-4
IL-4
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IL-21
IL-21
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IL-21 R
IL-21 R
IL-21 R
IL-21 R
Promotes B Cell Proliferation
& Differentiation
Promotes B Cell Proliferation
& Differentiation
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Antigen
Antigen
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BCR
BCR
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B Cell
B Cell
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Proliferation

Proliferation

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Differentiation

Differentiation

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Plasma Cells
Plasma Cells
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Memory B Cells
Memory B Cells
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B Cell Effects

B Cell Effects

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IL-21
IL-21
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IL-21 R
IL-21 R
TLR
TLR
Promotes B Cell Apoptosis in the
Absence of BCR & T Cell Signals
Promotes B Cell Apoptosis in the
Absence of BCR & T Cell Signals
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Immature B Cell
Immature B Cell
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TLR Signal
+
No BCR or T Cell
Interaction
Signal
TLR Signal
+
No BCR or T Cell
Interaction
Signal
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Cell Death

Cell Death

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B Cell Apoptosis

B Cell Apoptosis

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IL-21
IL-21
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IL-21 R
IL-21 R
IL-4
IL-4
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IL-4 R
IL-4 R
Regulates Immunoglobulin Production
& Class Switching
Regulates Immunoglobulin Production
& Class Switching
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Activated B Cell
Activated B Cell
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Plasma Cell
Plasma Cell
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IgG1, IgG2A, IgG2B, IgE
Production

IgG1, IgG2A, IgG2B, IgE
Production

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IL-21
IL-21
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IL-21 R
IL-21 R
Inhibits Dendritic Cell
Maturation & Function
Inhibits Dendritic Cell
Maturation & Function
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Low
Low
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MHC II,
MHC II,
Low
Low
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CCR7
CCR7
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Expression
Expression
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Dendritic Cell
Dendritic Cell
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Antigen-presenting Cell Function

Antigen-presenting Cell Function

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CD4+ or CD8+ T Cells
CD4+ or CD8+ T Cells
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Inhibits T Cell Responses

Inhibits T Cell Responses

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IL-21 Signaling Pathways and their Primary Biological Effects in Different Immune Cell Types

Overview of IL-21 Signaling and its Primary Biological Effects in Different Immune Cell Types

Interleukin-21 (IL-21) is the most recently described cytokine belonging to the common cytokine receptor gamma-chain family. Like other common gamma chain family members, IL-21 is a four alpha-helix bundle type I cytokine. It signals through a receptor complex consisting of IL-21 R and common gamma-chain/IL-2 R gamma. IL-21 is produced primarily by CD4+ T cells and natural killer T (NKT) cells and has a broad range of effects on a number of different cell types. IL-21 signaling in CD4+ T cells is required for both Th17 differentiation and the generation of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, which support B cell differentiation and antibody production in germinal centers. IL-21 also directly regulates B cell proliferation and apoptosis in a context-dependent manner and can promote immunoglobulin production and isotype class switching. In addition, IL-21 signaling enhances the cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells, natural killer cells, and NKT cells.

To learn more, please visit our Common gamma Chain Receptor Family Research Area.

IL-21 Signaling Pathways and their Primary Biological Effects in Different Immune Cell Types background image 1