Thymic stromal lymphpoietin promoter and use therefor

An isolated mammalian TSLP promoter that is at least 70% identical to SEQ ID NO:1.

A method of identifying a TSLP antagonist comprising:

• contacting a preparation comprising a reporter gene operably linked to an isolated TSLP promoter with a compound;
• and
• comparing the level of expression of the reporter gene in the presence of the compound to the level of expression of the reporter gene in the absence of the compound, wherein a decrease in the level of expression of the reporter gene in the presence of the compound indicates that the compound is a TSLP antagonist.

A method of identifying a TSLP agonist comprising:

• contacting a preparation comprising a reporter gene operably linked to an isolated TSLP promoter with a compound;
• and
• comparing the level of expression of the reporter gene in the presence of the compound to the level of expression of the reporter gene in the absence of the compound, wherein an increase in the level of expression of the reporter gene in the presence of the compound indicates that the compound is a TSLP agonist.

A method of treating allergic conditions comprising administering an allergic condition treating amount of a TSLP antagonist to an animal susceptible to or suffering from an allergic condition or disease.

A method of treating autoimmune diseases comprising administering an autoimmune diseases treating amount of a TSLP agonist to an animal susceptible to or suffering from an autoimmune diseases.

A nonhuman transgenic animal comprising an isolated TSLP promoter having the nucleic acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or a functional portion thereof having TSLP promoter activity.

A nucleic acid molecule having TSLP promoter activity comprising at least two functional portions of the isolated TSLP promoter having the nucleic acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1.