title: Expression of TIM-3, Human β-defensin-2, and FOXP3 and Correlation with Disease Activity in Pediatric Crohn's Disease with Infliximab Therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the expression of T cell immunoglobulin- and mucin-domain-containing molecule 3 (TIM-3), human β-defensin (HBD)-2, forkhead box protein 3 (FOXP3), and the frequency of CD4(+) CD25(+) FOXP3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) in children with Crohn's disease (CD) during infliximab therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 20 CD patients who received infliximab treatment for 1 year. Peripheral blood and colonic mucosal specimens were collected from all CD patients and from healthy control individuals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant difference in TIM-3 mRNA expression was evident in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and colonic mucosa between CD patients before infliximab therapy and the healthy controls (p<0.001 and p=0.005, respectively). A significant difference in HBD-2 mRNA expression was found in colonic mucosa between CD patients before infliximab therapy and the healthy controls (p=0.013). In the active phase of CD, at baseline, the median percentage of T cells that were CD25(+) FOXP3(+) was 1.5% (range, 0.32% to 3.49%), which increased after inflixmab treatment for 1 year to 2.2% (range, 0.54% to 5.02%) (p=0.008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests that both the adaptive and innate immune systems are closely linked to each other in CD pathogenesis. And the results of our study indicate that it could be a useful therapeutic tool, where restoration of TIM-3, HBD-2 and the function of Tregs may repair the dysfunctional immunoregulation in CD.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea.
authors: Mi Jin
authors: MJ
authors: Kim
authors: Departments of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Woo Yong
authors: WY
authors: Lee
authors: Departments of Pediatrics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Yon Ho
authors: YH
authors: Choe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003106:Colon / Q000276:immunology; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000072597:Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C106641:DEFB4A protein, human; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; C448908:HAVCR2 protein, human; D000072597:Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D023083:beta-Defensins; D000069285:Infliximab
keywords: Crohn disease; Human beta-defensins-2; Infliximab; T-cell immunoglobulin- and mucin-domain-containing molecule 3; forkhead box protein 3