| First Author | Vollmer TL | Year | 2005 |
| Journal | J Immunol | Volume | 174 |
| Issue | 5 | Pages | 2696-701 |
| PubMed ID | 15728477 | Mgi Jnum | J:97714 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3576166 | Doi | 10.4049/jimmunol.174.5.2696 |
| Citation | Vollmer TL, et al. (2005) Differential effects of IL-21 during initiation and progression of autoimmunity against neuroantigen. J Immunol 174(5):2696-701 |
| abstractText | The cytokine IL-21 is closely related to IL-2 and IL-15, a cytokine family that uses the common gamma-chain for signaling. IL-21 is expressed by activated CD4(+) T cells. We examined the role of IL-21 in the autoimmune disease experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model for human multiple sclerosis. IL-21 administration before induction of EAE with a neuroantigen, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide 35-55, and adjuvant enhanced the inflammatory influx into the CNS, as well as the severity of EAE. Autoreactive T cells purified from IL-21-treated mice transferred more severe EAE than did the control encephalitogenic T cells. No such effects were observed when IL-21 was administered after EAE progressed. Additional studies demonstrated that IL-21 given before the induction of EAE boosted NK cell function, including secretion of IFN-gamma. Depletion of NK cells abrogated the effect of IL-21. Therefore, IL-21, by affecting NK cells, has differential effects during the initiation and progression of autoimmune responses against neuroantigens. |
