Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Determining Ciliary Function and Membrane Impermeability of the Pseudostratified Lung Airway Epithelium
Published on: February 21, 2025
The epithelium takes centre stage in asthma and atopic dermatitis
1School of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK, SO16 6YD. S.Holgate@soton.ac.uk
Abstract:
Asthma and atopic dermatitis are epithelial disorders in which T helper 2 (Th2)-type inflammation has a prominent role. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is a cytokine produced by the skin and airway epithelium that is capable of directing dendritic cells towards a Th2 response, thereby providing an essential link between epithelial cell activation and allergic-type inflammation. In addition, TSLP can interact directly with mast cells to initiate Th2 cytokine production to also provide a non-T cell route to mediate its pro-allergic effects. Induction of TSLP production occurs through the activation of epithelial Toll-like receptors to provide an important new link between innate immunity and allergic disease.
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