Interleukin-21 mRNA expression during virus infections

TY - JOUR

T1 - Interleukin-21 mRNA expression during virus infections

AU - Holm, Christian

AU - Nyvold, Charlotte Guldborg

AU - Paludan, Søren Riis

AU - Thomsen, Allan R

AU - Hokland, Marianne

N1 - Keywords: Animals; Arenaviridae Infections; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Female; Herpes Genitalis; Herpesvirus 2, Human; Interferon-gamma; Interleukins; Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; RNA, Messenger; Spleen; Time Factors

PY - 2006

Y1 - 2006

N2 - Interleukin-21 is a cytokine with profound impact on the proliferation and differentiation of activated leukocytes of both the innate and adaptive immune system. In experiments in vitro, antigen activation induces IL-21 production in CD4+ T cells. Where, when, and how the proliferative and activational effects of IL-21 on different leukocytes come into play in vivo in an immune response has so far not been fully investigated. We show here for the first time in vivo, that IL-21 mRNA is produced in the spleen when mice are challenged with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) or lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). We show in HSV-2 challenged mice that this production takes place in CD4+ T cell fractions and is absent in CD4+ T cell-depleted fractions. We also show that the peak of IL-21 mRNA production in both the HSV-2 and LCMV-challenged mice coincides with the onset of the adaptive immune response. Thus, our data suggest a role for IL-21 in the early stages of adaptive immune response against virus infections.

AB - Interleukin-21 is a cytokine with profound impact on the proliferation and differentiation of activated leukocytes of both the innate and adaptive immune system. In experiments in vitro, antigen activation induces IL-21 production in CD4+ T cells. Where, when, and how the proliferative and activational effects of IL-21 on different leukocytes come into play in vivo in an immune response has so far not been fully investigated. We show here for the first time in vivo, that IL-21 mRNA is produced in the spleen when mice are challenged with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) or lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). We show in HSV-2 challenged mice that this production takes place in CD4+ T cell fractions and is absent in CD4+ T cell-depleted fractions. We also show that the peak of IL-21 mRNA production in both the HSV-2 and LCMV-challenged mice coincides with the onset of the adaptive immune response. Thus, our data suggest a role for IL-21 in the early stages of adaptive immune response against virus infections.

U2 - 10.1016/j.cyto.2005.11.014

DO - 10.1016/j.cyto.2005.11.014

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 16406655

SN - 1043-4666

VL - 33

SP - 41

EP - 45

JO - Cytokine

JF - Cytokine

IS - 1

ER -