title: Mast cell-airway smooth muscle crosstalk: the role of thymic stromal lymphopoietin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The mast cell localization to airway smooth muscle (ASM) bundle in asthma is important in the development of disordered airway physiology. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is expressed by airway structural cells. Whether it has a role in the crosstalk between these cells is uncertain. We sought to define TSLP expression in bronchial tissue across the spectrum of asthma severity and to investigate the TSLP and TSLP receptor (TSLPR) expression and function by primary ASM and mast cells alone and in coculture.
  
  
  METHODS
  TSLP expression was assessed in bronchial tissue from 18 subjects with mild to moderate asthma, 12 with severe disease, and nine healthy control subjects. TSLP and TSLPR expression in primary mast cells and ASM was assessed by immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and its function was assessed by calcium imaging. The role of TSLP in mast cell and ASM proliferation, survival, differentiation, synthetic function, and contraction was examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TSLP expression was increased in the ASM bundle in mild-moderate disease. TSLP and TSLPR were expressed by mast cells and ASM and were functional. Mast cell activation by TSLP increased the production of a broad range of chemokines and cytokines, but did not affect mast cell or ASM proliferation, survival, or contraction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TSLP expression by the bronchial epithelium and ASM was upregulated in asthma. TSLP promoted mast cell synthetic function, but did not contribute to other functional consequences of mast cell-ASM crosstalk.
authors: Institute for Lung Health, Department of Infection, Inflammation and Immunity, University of Leicester, Leicester, England.
authors: Davinder
authors: D
authors: Kaur
authors: Institute for Lung Health, Department of Infection, Inflammation and Immunity, University of Leicester, Leicester, England.
authors: Camille
authors: C
authors: Doe
authors: Institute for Lung Health, Department of Infection, Inflammation and Immunity, University of Leicester, Leicester, England.
authors: Lucy
authors: L
authors: Woodman
authors: Institute for Lung Health, Department of Infection, Inflammation and Immunity, University of Leicester, Leicester, England.
authors: Wing-Yan
authors: WY
authors: Heidi Wan
authors: Institute for Lung Health, Department of Infection, Inflammation and Immunity, University of Leicester, Leicester, England.
authors: Amanda
authors: A
authors: Sutcliffe
authors: Institute for Lung Health, Department of Infection, Inflammation and Immunity, University of Leicester, Leicester, England.
authors: Fay
authors: F
authors: Hollins
authors: Institute for Lung Health, Department of Infection, Inflammation and Immunity, University of Leicester, Leicester, England. Electronic address: ceb17@le.ac.uk.
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: Brightling
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001249:Asthma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001980:Bronchi / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000378:metabolism; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D000094632:Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin
chemical_list: C498762:CRLF2 protein, human; D016207:Cytokines; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine; D000094632:Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin