Human IL-21 ELISA Development Kit

Interleukin 21 (IL-21) is a T cell-derived pleiotropic cytokine that has potent regulatory effects on cells of the immune system, including natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T cells that can destroy virally infected or cancerous cells.1,2 This cytokine induces cell division/proliferation in its target cells. IL-21 elicits its effects on immune cells by interacting with a cell surface receptor known as the interleukin 21 receptor, IL-21R, which is expressed in bone marrow cells and various lymphocytes. IL-21 is closely related to IL-2 and IL-153 and is a key factor in the transition between innate and adaptive immune responses.4 The critical role of IL21 in promoting humoral immune responses makes it an important focus of potential therapeutic interventions in conditions characterised by overproduction of pathogenic autoantibodies.5