TSLP promotes interleukin-3-independent basophil haematopoiesis and type 2 inflammation

TSLP's role in allergy The cytokine thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) has been described as the master switch of allergic inflammation. Here, TSLP is shown to induce the development of basophils from bone-marrow progenitors and to activate peripheral basophils in an interleukin-3 (IL-3)-independent manner. Basophils elicited by TSLP differ from those dependent on IL-3 both phenotypically and functionally, and may play an important part in allergic diseases associated with T-helper type 2 cells.