Expression of Tim-3 is transiently increased before development of anterior chamber-associated immune deviation.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the expression of T-cell immunoglobulin- and mucin-domain-containing molecule 3 (Tim-3) in the spleens of BALB/c mice undergoing anterior chamber-associated immune deviation (ACAID).


METHODS
ACAID was generated after intracameral (i.c.) injection of ovalbumin (OVA) into BALB/c mice and evaluated by assessing the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response following a subsequent subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of OVA emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) on Days 0, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28. Tim-3 mRNA levels were detected using real-time RT-PCR, and the frequency of CD4+Tim-3+ T cells in splenocytes as well as the coexpression of Tim-3 with CD25 on CD4+ T cells were assessed by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
A significantly suppressed DTH response was observed on Days 7, 14, 21, and 28, but not on Days 0 and 3 during the development of ACAID. The levels of Tim-3 mRNA and the frequency of CD4+CD25+Tim-3+ T cells in the splenocytes reached a peak on Day 3, declined on Day 7, and returned to basal levels thereafter.


CONCLUSIONS
A transient upregulation of Tim-3 expression was observed in the early stage of ACAID, suggesting its possible involvement in the development of ACAID.
Wang
Yuqin
Y
Uveitis Study Center, Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Guangzhou, China.
Yang
Peizeng
P
Li
Bing
B
Zhou
Hongyan
H
Huang
Xiangkun
X
Wang
Yulin
Y
Chi
Wei
W
Zhu
Xuefei
X
Zhu
Lianxiang
L
Kijlstra
Aize
A
D000818:Animals; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D000072597:Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics*; D014606:Uveitis, Anterior / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
C442241:Havcr2 protein, mouse; D000072597:Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011991:Receptors, Virus