Enhancement of proliferation and downregulation of TRAIL expression on CD8(+) T cells by IL-21

Author(s):
Melief, C.J.M.; Schoenberger, S.P.
Published
2010
Publication type
Article / Letter to editor

Abstract

Mounting evidence indicates that the cytokine IL-21 can significantly enhance the survival of CD8(+) T lymphocytes. Given that CD4(+) T lymphocytes constitute the main cellular source for IL-21 in vivo, it is tempting to speculate a direct role in mediating the "help" provided by these CD4(+) T cells to the CD8 response. A new report in this issue of the European Journal of Immunology advances this notion by showing that CD8(+) T cells lacking the IL-21 receptor phenocopy those primed in the absence of CD4(+) T cells (the so-called "helpless" CD8(+) T cells) in their induction of the pro-apoptotic factor TRAIL. This finding helps to define the role of IL-21 in the CD8 response, and raises new questions relevant for achieving a broader understanding of this multifunctional cytokine.

CD8(+) T cell Cytotoxic T cell IL-21 Memory T cell TRAIL chronic viral-infection dendritic cells memory help activation
Date issued
2010-11-30
Language
English
Is part of
European Journal of Immunology (2010), Vol. 40, no. 11, p. 2990-2992
hdl
1887/117713
doi
10.1002/eji.201041076