title: TIM-3 in autoimmunity.
abstract: T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain (TIM)-3 is a molecule expressed on terminally differentiated murine Th1 cells but not on Th2 cells. Identification of galectin-9 as a ligand for TIM-3 has now firmly established the TIM-3-galectin-9 pathway as an important regulator of Th1 immunity and tolerance induction. TIM-3 is similarly expressed on human Th1 cells and not on Th2 cells, which suggests that TIM-3 might also contribute to Th1 regulation in humans. In addition, genetic data associate the TIM locus and specific TIM-3 polymorphisms with various immune-mediated diseases. Most importantly, recent data suggest a novel paradigm in which dysregulation of the TIM-3-galectin-9 pathway could underlie chronic autoimmune disease states, such as multiple sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Ana C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity; D037161:Galectins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000072597:Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D037161:Galectins; C448908:HAVCR2 protein, human; D000072597:Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2; C105032:LGALS9 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011991:Receptors, Virus