Mouse IL21

Interleukin-21 (IL-21) is an approximately 14 kDa four-helix-bundle cytokine in the family of cytokines that utilize the common gamma chain ( gamma c) as a receptor subunit. IL-21 is produced by activated T follicular helper cells (Tfh), Th17 cells, and NKT cells. It exerts its biological effects through a heterodimeric receptor complex of gamma c and the IL-21-specific IL-21 R. Tfh-derived IL-21 plays an important role in the development of humoral immunity through its autocrine effects on the Tfh cell and paracrine effects on immunoglobulin affinity maturation, plasma cell differentiation, and B cell memory responses. It is also required for the migration of dendritic cells to draining lymph nodes (1-5).