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The Role of Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin in Allergic Inflammation and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

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Archivum Immunologiae et Therapiae Experimentalis Aims and scope

Abstract

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 α chain and the TSLP receptor chain (TSLPR). TSLPR resembles the common γ 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.

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Abbreviations

AD:

Atopic dermatitis

BAL:

Bronchoalveolar lavage

CCL:

Chemokine (C–C motif) ligand

COPD:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

DC:

Dendritic cell

DEP:

Diesel exhaust particle

dsRNA:

Double-stranded ribonucleic acid

HASMC:

Human airway smooth muscle cell

HBEC:

Human bronchial epithelial cell

IL:

Interleukin

IL-7Rα:

IL-7 receptor α chain

JAK:

Janus family tyrosine kinases

LC:

Langerhans cell

LPA:

Lysophosphatidic acid

LTA:

Lipoteichoic acid

MDC:

Macrophage-derived chemokine

NF-κB:

Nuclear factor-κB

NK:

Natural killer

OX40L:

OX40 ligand

poly I:C:

Polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid

RSV:

Respiratory syncytial virus

STAT:

Signal transducer and activator of transcription

TARC:

Thymus activation-regulated chemokine

Th:

T-helper

TLR:

Toll-like receptor

TNF:

Tumor necrosis factor

Treg:

T-regulatory

TSLP:

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin

TSLPR:

TSLP receptor chain

TSLP-DC:

TSLP-activated dendritic cell

TSLP-LC:

TSLP-activated Langerhans cell

γc :

Common γ chain

VDR:

Vitamin D receptor

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Fang, C., Siew, L.Q.C., Corrigan, C.J. et al. The Role of Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin in Allergic Inflammation and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Arch. Immunol. Ther. Exp. 58, 81–90 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00005-010-0064-3

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