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Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Expression of Exogenous Cytokine in Patient-derived Xenografts via Injection with a Cytokine-transduced Stromal Cell Line
Published on: May 10, 2017
Signal transduction by the atopy-associated human thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) receptor depends on Janus
Andreas Wohlmann1, Katrin Sebastian1, Andreas Borowski1
1Institute of Biochemistry II, University of Jena Medical School, Nonnenplan 2, D-07743 Jena, Germany.
Abstract:
Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is an interleukin-(IL)-7-like cytokine with emerging pathological importance for the development of atopic diseases such as allergic asthma bronchiale. The TSLP receptor (TSLPR), a heterodimeric type I cytokine receptor, shares the IL-7R alpha-subunit with the IL-7 receptor system. The specific TSLPR alpha-chain shows similarities with the gammac receptor chain, but has some unusual features within the receptor family in both its ligand-binding and cytoplasmic domain. The murine TSLPR signals via the signal transducers and activators of transcription STAT5 and STAT3, but is unique among cytokine receptors in that it activates STATs without the involvement of Janus (JAK) tyrosine kinases, but instead utilizes the Src type kinase Tec. Here, we show by Western blotting and reporter gene experiments in combination with the application of a specific JAK inhibitor that the human TSLP receptor, in contrast, requires the function of JAK1 and JAK2 for STAT activation. Moreover, we demonstrate that the human TSLPR mediates gene regulation not only through STAT5 and STAT3 but has also the potential to mediate transcription via STAT1. Our work should help to understand more thoroughly how TSLP triggers inflammatory responses in the course of atopic diseases.
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