LEAF(TM) Purified anti-human TSLP

Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin (TSLP) is a hemopoietic protein that is expressed in the heart, liver and prostate. TSLP overlaps biological activities with IL-7 and binds with the heterodimeric receptor complex consisting of the IL-7R alpha chain (IL-7Ralpha) and the TSLP-specific chain (TSLPR). Like IL-7, TSLP induces phosphorylation of STAT3 and STAT5, but uses kinases other than the JAKs for activation. TSLP prohibited apoptosis and stimulated growth of the human acute myeloid leukemia (AML)-derived cell line MUTZ3. It induces the release of T cell-attracting chemokines TARC and MDC from monocytes and activates CD11c(+) dendritic cells (DCs). TSLP activated DCs primed naïve T cells to produce the proallergic cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, TNFalpha) while down-regulating IL-10 and IFN-gamma suggesting a role in initiating allergic inflammation. Recent studies revealed that expression of TSLP has a direct link to the pathogenesis of allergic inflammation such as atopic dermatitis and asthma via activating dendritic cells and mast cells which trigger inflammatory Th2 response characterized by high TNF-alpha and little IL-10 production.