Overexpression of murine TSLP impairs lymphopoiesis and myelopoiesis

Blood. 2004 Feb 1;103(3):843-51. doi: 10.1182/blood-2003-05-1557. Epub 2003 Sep 25.

Abstract

The role of thymic stromal cell-derived lymphopoietin (TSLP) in regulating hematopoiesis is poorly characterized, so we investigated its regulatory effects in vivo using TSLP transgenic mice. Overexpression of TSLP disrupted hematopoietic homeostasis by causing imbalances in lymphopoiesis and myelopoiesis. Mice harboring a TSLP transgene had 5- to 700-fold fewer B and T precursors and no detectable pre-B lymphocyte colonyforming activity in the marrow or spleen. Conversely, TSLP transgenic mice possessed 15 to 20 times more splenic myeloid precursors than their littermates, and progenitor activity of the granulocyteerythrocyte-macrophage-megakaryocyte colony-forming units was significantly elevated. The arrest in lymphopoiesis and the expansion of myeloid progenitor cells in TSLP transgenic mice suggest that TSLP has negative and positive regulatory effects on lymphoid and myeloid development, respectively.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • Cell Line
  • Colony-Forming Units Assay
  • Cytokines / genetics*
  • Cytokines / physiology*
  • Gene Expression
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / cytology
  • Humans
  • Hyperplasia
  • Lymphopoiesis / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Myelopoiesis / physiology*
  • Spleen / pathology
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin