title: Novel insights into Tim-4 function in autoimmune diseases.
abstract: T-cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain-4 (Tim-4) was first recognized as a costimulatory molecule regulating T-cell activation. Dysregulation of Tim-4 has been found in some autoimmune conditions, particularly in the immune cells. Recently, Tim-4 was found to be critical for regulating T cells, with the ability of inhibiting naïve CD4(+) T cells and Th17 cells, increasing Th2 cell development. Tim-4 can also enhance T cell expansion via linker for activation of T cells, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Protein kinase B (PKB, also known as Akt) signaling pathways. Moreover, the Tim-4 signaling pathway may affect multiple molecular processes in autoimmune diseases. A number of previous studies have demonstrated that Tim-4 influences chronic autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus. In addition, an association between Tim-4 polymorphisms and susceptibility to several autoimmune diseases have been identified, such as RA. Taken together, recent works have indicated that Tim-4 may represent a novel target for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. In this article, we will discuss the Tim-4 function and the therapeutic potential of modulating the Tim-4 in autoimmune diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Anhui Medical University , Hefei , China.
authors.forename: Xin-Yu
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Wang-Dong
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Hai-Feng
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Rui-Xue
authors.initials: RX
authors.lastname: Leng
authors.forename: Dong-Qing
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Ye
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; C512411:TIMD4 protein, human
keywords: Autoimmune diseases; RA; SLE; Tim-4; target