IJCEP Copyright © 2007-All rights reserved.
Int J Clin Exp Pathol 1(4):325-330;2008

Review Article
Thymus Stromal Lymphopoietin (TSLP) as a Bridge between Infection and Atopy

Stéphane Esnault, Louis A Rosenthal, Deng-Shun Wang and James S Malter

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Waisman Center for Developmental Disability, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine
and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705

Received 12 Sept 2007; accepted and available online 1 January 2008

Abstract:  The rising worldwide prevalence of asthma has intensified interest in the natural history of asthma. An improved understanding of
the genetic, environmental, and developmental factors contributing to the inception and exacerbation of asthma will be crucial to efforts to
devise effective preventive and therapeutic interventions. There is increasing evidence that the complex interplay of early life respiratory viral
infections and allergic sensitization is important in the development of asthma. Major causes of asthma exacerbations are respiratory viral
infections and aeroallergen exposure, which may have interactive co-morbid effects. This review describes the potential role of thymic stromal
lymphopoietin (TSLP) as a connection between the innate immune response to respiratory viral infections and the type-2 adaptive immune
response in the development and exacerbation of asthma. (IJCEP708012).

Key Words: Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), virus infection, atopy, asthma

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Address all correspondence to: Stéphane Esnault, Ph.D, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Waisman Center for
Developmental Disability, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, Tel: (608) 262-8898, Email:
sesnault@wisc.edu.