This gene encodes a member of the common-gamma chain family of cytokines with immunoregulatory activity. The encoded protein plays a role in both the innate and adaptive immune responses by inducing the differentiation, proliferation and activity of multiple target cells including macrophages, natural killer cells, B cells and cytotoxic T cells. Dysregulation of this gene plays a role in multiple immune-mediated diseases including lupus, psoriasis and chronic inflammatory diseases. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding multiple isoforms have been observed for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Dec 2011]
Forensic Context
A study in mice demonstrated that the IL21 was significantly upregulated at 60 days post-injury in microglia isolated from brains after controlled cortical impact, indicating its role in regulating immune responses during the chronic phase of traumatic brain injury [Izzy et al. DOI:10.3389/fncel.2019.00307].