Tim3 is upregulated and protective in nephrotoxic serum nephritis.
T cell immunoglobulin and mucin protein-3 (Tim3) is mainly expressed on the cell surface of T-helper lymphocytes (T(H)) that negatively regulates T(H)-type 1 (T(H)-1) responses. Because blockade of Tim3 aggravates disease activity in T(H)-1-dependent diseases, we investigated whether Tim3 is involved in the pathogenesis of the T(H)-1-dependent nephrotoxic nephritis (NTS). We first evaluated Tim3 expression in mice after induction of nephrotoxic serum nephritis (NTS) and then studied the effects of anti-Tim3 treatment toward the course of NTS for up to seven days. Whereas Tim3 expression was undetectable in control mice, we found significantly increased Tim3 expression in kidneys, but not in draining lymph nodes, at one, four, and eight weeks after induction of NTS. Tim3-expressing cells that infiltrated kidneys of mice subjected to NTS turned out to be CD4(+) T cells rather than CD8(+) cytotoxic T cells and dendritic cells. Administration of a blocking anti-Tim3 antibody aggravated nephritis as shown by significantly increased albuminuria, respective histological changes, and increased expression of the kidney injury molecule lipocalin-2. In parallel, an increase of infiltrating T cells, macrophages, and macrophage pro-inflammatory cytokine formation as well as increased proliferation and apoptosis in kidneys of anti-Tim3-treated mice was detected. Together, we provide the first evidence that Tim3 is up-regulated in kidneys in NTS and that Tim3 exerts protective roles in the course of disease.
Schroll
Andrea
A
Department of Internal Medicine I, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Eller
Kathrin
K
Huber
Julia M
JM
Theurl
Igor M
IM
Wolf
Anna M
AM
Weiss
Günter
G
Rosenkranz
Alexander R
AR
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000652:urine; D000418:Albumins / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D000072597:Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009393:Nephritis / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D015513:Oncogene Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000166:cytology
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D000418:Albumins; C448908:HAVCR2 protein, human; C442241:Havcr2 protein, mouse; D000072597:Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2; C489506:LCN2 protein, human; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D015513:Oncogene Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011991:Receptors, Virus; C071332:Lcn2 protein, mouse; D003404:Creatinine