Schematic representation of the interleukin (IL)-21 receptor signaling pathway. IL-21R/γc-driven signaling may activate three pathways, namely the JAK/STAT, PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathways. JAK, Janus-activated kinase; STAT, signal transducer and activator of transcription; PI3K, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase.