Overexpression of thymic stromal lymphopoietin in allergic rhinitis

CONCLUSION: Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) played an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis (AR) and can be regarded a potential therapeutic target for the management of AR. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the possible role of TSLP in the pathogenesis of AR. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We enrolled 16 patients of AR to investigate the expression of TSLP in nasal mucosa and evaluate the link of TSLP and interleukin-4 (IL-4). Expression of TSLP was detected by immunohistochemical analysis and quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and concentrations of TSLP and IL-4 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: TSLP was detected in all samples and the mRNA and protein expression of TSLP is increased significantly in AR nasal mucosa compared with normal control (P<0.05). TSLP production is tightly correlated with IL-4 and severity of AR (P<0.05).