Description
Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is a hemopoietic protein belonging to the cytokine family and is known to play an important role in the maturation of T cell populations through activation of antigen presenting cells. It is mainly expressed in a number of tissues including heart, liver and prostate. TSLP signals through a heterodimeric receptor complex composed of the thymic stromal lymphopoietin receptor and the IL-7R alpha chain. After binding STAT5 phosphorylation is induced resulting in the expression of downstream transcription factors. Like IL-7, TSLP induces phosphorylation of STAT3 and STAT5, but uses kinases other than the JAKs for activation. TSLP has the functions of enhancing the maturation of CD11c+ dendritic cells and inducing allergic inflammation by directly activating mast cells. It expression is linked to many disease states including asthma, inflammatory arthritis, atopic dermatitis, and eczema and other allergic states. But the factors inducing the activation of TSLP release are not clearly defined. Human TSLP shares approximately 43 % a.a. sequence identity with mouse TSLP