Anti-Interleukin 21 (IL-21) Antibody, clone 1G8

Interleukin 21 (IL-21) is a cytokine that has immunoregulatory activity on cells of the immune system, including natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T cells that can destroy virally infected or cancerous cells. IL-21 induces cell division/proliferation in its target cells and is expressed in activated human CD4+ T cells. IL-21 may promote the transition between innate and adaptive immunity and may play a role in proliferation and maturation of natural killer (NK) cells in synergy with IL15. IL-21 expression is up-regulated in Th2 and Th17 subsets of T helper cells, as well as follicular T cells. Furthermore IL-21 is expressed in NK T cells regulating the function of these cells. IL-21 is also produced by Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) cancer cells and may explain a great deal of the behavior of classical Hodgkin's lymphoma including clusters of other immune cells gathered around HL cells in cultures.