title: The epithelium takes centre stage in asthma and atopic dermatitis.
abstract: Asthma and atopic dermatitis are epithelial disorders in which T helper 2 (Th2)-type inflammation has a prominent role. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is a cytokine produced by the skin and airway epithelium that is capable of directing dendritic cells towards a Th2 response, thereby providing an essential link between epithelial cell activation and allergic-type inflammation. In addition, TSLP can interact directly with mast cells to initiate Th2 cytokine production to also provide a non-T cell route to mediate its pro-allergic effects. Induction of TSLP production occurs through the activation of epithelial Toll-like receptors to provide an important new link between innate immunity and allergic disease.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK, SO16 6YD. S.Holgate@soton.ac.uk
authors.forename: Stephen T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Holgate
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000502:physiology; D000094632:Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D000094632:Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin