Critical role for IL-21 in both primary and memory anti-viral CD8+ T-cell responses

While it is well established that CD8(+) T cells generated in the absence of CD4(+) T cells mediate defective recall responses, the mechanism by which CD4(+) T cells confer help in the generation of CD8(+) T-cell responses remains poorly understood. To determine whether CD4(+) T-cell-derived IL-21 is an important regulator of CD8(+) T-cell responses in help-dependent and -independent viral infections, we examined these responses in the IL-21R alpha(-/-) mouse model. We show that IL-21 has a role in primary CD8(+) T-cell responses and in recall CD8(+) T-cell responses in help-dependent viral infections. This effect is due to a direct action of IL-21 in enhancing the proliferation of virus-specific CD8(+) T cells and reducing their TRAIL expression. These findings indicate that IL-21 is an important mediator of CD4(+) T-cell help to CD8(+) T cells.