抄録
Exposure to several chemical compounds in the environment might worsen allergies. However, it remains unclear which chemicals except for contact-sensitizing compounds modify inflammatory and immune responses and how. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), an IL-7-like cytokine produced mainly by epithelial cells, plays important roles in the initiation of allergic inflammation. We found that the painting of xylene on ear lobes induced production of TSLP and exacerbated the picryl chloride-induced allergic dermatitis. Thus, there are chemical compounds in the environment which do not have contact-sensitizing activity but cause the production of TSLP and on exacerbation of allergic dermatitis.
