Thymic stromal lymphopoietin in normal and pathogenic T cell development and function

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin, a four helix-bundle cytokine, is expressed mainly by barrier epithelial cells and is a potent activator of several cell types, particularly myeloid dendritic cells. TSLP influences the outcome of interactions between dendritic cells and CD4(+) thymocytes and T cells in many situations, such as the regulation of the positive selection of regulatory T cells, maintenance of peripheral CD4(+) T cell homeostasis and induction of CD4(+) T cell-mediated allergic inflammation.