Thymic stromal lymphopoietin as a novel mediator amplifying immunopathology in rheumatic disease.

Hillen, Maarten R; Radstake, Timothy R D J; Hack, Cornelis E; van Roon, Joel A G · Rheumatology (Oxford) · 2015

basic_science · Level V

Where this comes from

Abstract

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is an IL-7-related cytokine that has been studied extensively in atopic diseases and more recently in various rheumatic disorders. It is involved in T cell development in the thymus and promotes homeostatic T cell expansion by classical dendritic cells. However, deregulated TSLP expression in various rheumatic diseases has implicated this cytokine as a strong mediator in immunopathology. Overexpressed TSLP induces strong T cell activation and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in human cells and animal models for RA, SSc and LN, underscoring the therapeutic potential of targeting the TSLP-TSLP receptor axis.

Medical subject headings