This gene encodes a hemopoietic cytokine proposed to signal through a heterodimeric receptor complex composed of the thymic stromal lymphopoietin receptor and the IL-7R alpha chain It mainly impacts myeloid cells and induces the release of T cell-attracting chemokines from monocytes and enhances the maturation of CD11c( ) dendritic cells The protein promotes T helper type 2 (TH2) cell responses that are associated with immunity in various inflammatory diseases including asthma allergic inflammation and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease The protein is therefore considered a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of such diseases In addition the shorter (predominant) isoform is an antimicrobial protein displaying antibacterial and antifungal activity against B cereus E coli E faecalis S mitis S epidermidis and C albicans Alternative splicing of this gene results in multiple transcript variants