Thymic stromal lymphopoietin.
Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is an epithelial cell-derived cytokine expressed in skin, gut, lungs, and thymus. TSLP signals via a TSLP receptor (TSLPR), a heterodimer of the IL-7 receptor alpha chain and the TSLPR chain. The TSLPR chain is closely related to the common receptor gamma chain that is expressed on a wide range of cell types in the adaptive and innate immune system. TSLP exerts a profound influence on the polarization of dendritic cells to drive T helper (Th) 2 cytokine production. TSLP also directly promotes T-cell proliferation in response to T-cell receptor activation and Th2 cytokine production and supports B-cell expansion and differentiation. TSLP further amplifies Th2 cytokine production by mast cells and natural killer T cells. These properties confer on TSLP a critical role in driving Th2-mediated inflammation. This role is supported by the finding that TSLP expression is upregulated in keratinocytes of atopic dermatitis skin lesions and in bronchial epithelial cells in asthma.
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Rui
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Division of Immunology, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Geha
Raif S
RS
D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008954:Models, Biological; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D000094632:Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin
C498762:CRLF2 protein, human; D016207:Cytokines; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine; D000094632:Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin