Vital Role for Interleukin-21 in the Control of a Chronic Viral Infection

Understanding the factors that regulate the induction, quality, and longevity of antiviral T cell responses is essential for devising rational strategies to prevent or combat infections. In this study, we show that interleukin-21 (IL-21), likely produced by CD4⁺ T cells, directly influences the gene...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2009-06, Vol.324 (5934), p.1572-1576
Main Authors: Yi, John S, Du, Ming, Zajac, Allan J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antibodies
Antivirals
B lymphocytes
Biological and medical sciences
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology
Cellular biology
Chronic Disease
Chronic illnesses
Cytokines
Exhaustion
Immune system
Immunity
Infections
Infectious diseases
Interleukins - immunology
Lymphocytes
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis - immunology
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus
Medical sciences
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Proteins
T lymphocytes
Viral diseases
Viral infections
Viral Load
Viruses
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Summary:Understanding the factors that regulate the induction, quality, and longevity of antiviral T cell responses is essential for devising rational strategies to prevent or combat infections. In this study, we show that interleukin-21 (IL-21), likely produced by CD4⁺ T cells, directly influences the generation of polyfunctional CD8⁺ T cells and that the number of CD4⁺ T cells that produce IL-21 differs markedly between acute and chronic infections. IL-21 regulates the development of CD8⁺ T cell exhaustion and the ability to contain chronic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection. Thus, IL-21 serves as a critical helper factor that shapes the functional quality of antiviral CD8⁺ T cells and is required for viral control.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1175194