IL21 is predominantly produced by a CXCL13 associated CD4+ T cell subset and shapes the immune microenvironment in colorectal cancer

1

IL21 is predominantly expressed in CXCL13+CD4+ T cell subsets within the tumor microenvironment of colorectal cancer.
2

Multiplex immunofluorescence confirmed increased levels of IL21 and IL21+CD4+ T cells in colorectal cancer tissues compared to normal tissues.
3

Correlation analysis indicated a positive association between IL21 expression and various CD4+ T cell populations, including CXCL13+ subsets.
4

SCENIC analysis identified key transcription factors, such as STAT1 and IRF4, linked to the CXCL13-associated CD4+ T cell subset.
5

Exogenous IL21 induced significant transcriptional changes in murine colorectal tumor tissues, activating immune pathways and suppressing Wnt-associated genes.

Frontiers In Immunology

by Peiyu Lu, Hua Zhou, Hongwei Jiang, You Wu, Hanlin Yang, Yirui Liu, Shaoxian Wu, Min Yang
June 26, 2026

1