Thymic stromal lymphopoietin in leukemia: A double-edged sword?

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is a cytokine expressed by various cell types. It is involved in the development of allergies, autoimmune diseases, and cancers. TSLP affects immune responses and disease pathogenesis by binding to a heterodimeric receptor complex. In leukemia, particularly acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the importance of TSLP is being increasingly recognized. It has been shown that TSLP promotes leukemia proliferation by regulating different signaling pathways. However, it has also shown that other gene mutations can occur during this proliferative process, making it impossible to completely cure leukemia by targeting TSLP alone. Additionally, effect of TSLP on leukemia was found to be dose dependent. Whilst low doses were found to support the proliferation of leukemia cells, high doses were found to induce apoptosis in leukemia cells. This review focuses on the dual mechanisms of TSLP in leukemia, providing new insights for leukemia treatment.