The role of thymic stromal lymphopoietin in allergic inflammation and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) primes dendritic cells to promote a Th2 inflammatory response. Its action is mediated by a heterodimeric receptor which consists of the interleukin-7 receptor alpha chain and the TSLP receptor chain (TSLPR). TSLPR resembles the common gamma chain subunit utilized by many type 1 cytokine receptors. Normal epithelial cells, keratinocytes, and stromal cells constitutively express TSLP. Dendritic cells that are activated by TSLP promote the development of CD4(+) T cells into pro-inflammatory Th2 cells. TSLP thus plays a potentially important role in the pathogenesis of allergic inflammation in asthma and atopic dermatitis. TSLP also has direct effects on other types of cells in the bronchial mucosa. It is over-expressed in the bronchial mucosa in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is traditionally described as a Th1-related disease, as well as severe asthma, which is traditionally described as a Th2-related disease. In this review we will discuss TSLP expression, function, and available and potential mechanisms in both allergic inflammation and COPD.
Fang
Cailong
C
Division of Asthma, Allergy and Lung Biology, MRC and Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, King's College London, London, UK.
Siew
Leonard Q C
LQ
Corrigan
Chris J
CJ
Ying
Sun
S
D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000276:immunology*; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D000094632:Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin
C498762:CRLF2 protein, human; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine; D000094632:Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin