Tim-3-Galectin-9 pathway involves the suppression induced by CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells.
CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) are considered to play a key role as suppressors of immune-mediated reactions. The mechanisms of this suppression in animals and patients with autoimmune, allergic or oncogenic diseases have been investigated under various conditions. However, the precise mode of suppression by CD4(+)CD25(+) Tregs is still not clear. In this report, Tim-3-Galectin-9 pathway was explored as one of the mechanisms for the suppression and cytotoxicity induced by Tregs. Here, we demonstrated that Galectin-9 was expressed on CD4(+)CD25(+) Tregs by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot. Interestingly, blocking Tim-3-Galectin-9 pathway resulted in an obvious decreased suppression activity of Tregs and enhanced Th1 cytokine level in vitro. Furthermore, blocking Tim-3-Galectin-9 pathway negated prolonged survival of allogeneic skin grafts induced by CD4(+)CD25(+) Tregs in vivo. Our results suggest that Tim-3-Galectin-9 pathway involves the function of CD4(+)CD25(+) Tregs.
Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China. xijiange_1@163.com
Feng
F
Wang
Lagen
L
Wan
Caicheng
C
Zhang
Xiaofeng
X
Zheng
Junming
J
Li
Zhonghua Klaus
ZK
Chen
D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D019138:Antibodies, Blocking; D037161:Galectins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology*; D000072597:Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014181:Transplantation Immunology
D019138:Antibodies, Blocking; D037161:Galectins; C442241:Havcr2 protein, mouse; D000072597:Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011991:Receptors, Virus; C442242:Timd2 protein, mouse; C508186:galectin 9, mouse; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma