TY - JOUR
T1 - IL-21 limits peripheral lymphocyte numbers through T cell homeostatic mechanisms
AU - Datta, Shrimati
AU - Sarvetnick, Nora E.
PY - 2008/9/5
Y1 - 2008/9/5
N2 - Background: IL-21, a member of the common y-chain utilizing family of cytokines, participates in immune and inflammatory processes. In addition, the cytokine has been linked to autoimmunity in humans and rodents. Methodology/Principal Findings: To investigate the mechanism whereby IL-21 affects the immune system, we investigated its role in T cell homeostasis and autoimmunity in both non-autoimmune C578L/6 and autoimmune NOD mice. Our data indicate that IL-21R knockout CS7BL/6 and NOD mice show increased size of their lymphocyte population and decreased homeostatic proliferation. In addition, our experimental results demonstrate that IL-21 inhibits T cell survival. These data suggest that IL-21 acts to limit the size of the T cell pool. Furthermore, our data suggest IL-21 may contribute to the development of autoimmunity. Conclusions/Significance: Taken together, our results suggest that IL-21 plays a global role in regulating T cell homeostasis, promoting the continuous adaptation of the T cell lymphoid space.
AB - Background: IL-21, a member of the common y-chain utilizing family of cytokines, participates in immune and inflammatory processes. In addition, the cytokine has been linked to autoimmunity in humans and rodents. Methodology/Principal Findings: To investigate the mechanism whereby IL-21 affects the immune system, we investigated its role in T cell homeostasis and autoimmunity in both non-autoimmune C578L/6 and autoimmune NOD mice. Our data indicate that IL-21R knockout CS7BL/6 and NOD mice show increased size of their lymphocyte population and decreased homeostatic proliferation. In addition, our experimental results demonstrate that IL-21 inhibits T cell survival. These data suggest that IL-21 acts to limit the size of the T cell pool. Furthermore, our data suggest IL-21 may contribute to the development of autoimmunity. Conclusions/Significance: Taken together, our results suggest that IL-21 plays a global role in regulating T cell homeostasis, promoting the continuous adaptation of the T cell lymphoid space.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=52349088182&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=52349088182&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0003118
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0003118
M3 - Article
C2 - 18773086
AN - SCOPUS:52349088182
VL - 3
JO - PLoS One
JF - PLoS One
SN - 1932-6203
IS - 9
M1 - e3118
ER -