title: Participation of T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-3 (TIM-3) and its ligand (galectin-9) in the pathogenesis of active generalized vitiligo.
abstract: Vitiligo is a depigmentary disease where melanocytes of the basal layer of epidermis are selectively destroyed by immune-cell-mediated cytotoxicity. The T cell immunoglobulin- and mucin-domain-containing molecules (TIMs) are involved in immune regulation, and their participation is not known in vitiligo. The present study revealed significant increase in the percentage of CD3+CD4+TIM3+ T cells (P < 0.05) in peripheral blood and was positively correlated with percentage body surface area involvement in aGV group. Further, increased expression of TIM-3 and its ligand galectin-9 (Gal-9) mRNA was found in peripheral blood and lesional/perilesional skin of active generalized vitiligo (aGV) compared with controls. Characteristic migration pattern of TIM-3-positive immune cells in lesional (near/in the epidermis) and perilesional (towards epidermis) skin section suggested that TIM-3+ immune cells may be involved in melanocyte destruction. Further, investigation is required to understand the role of TIM-3/Gal-9 signalling pathways in aGV and it can be targeted in the management of vitiligo.
authors.affiliation: All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Manoj Kumar
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Tembhre
authors.forename: Anita Singh
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Parihar
authors.forename: Alpana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Somesh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Parthaprasad
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chattopadhyay
authors.forename: Vinod Kumar
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D037161:Galectins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072596:Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 1; D000072597:Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008024:Ligands; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D037161:Galectins; C491143:HAVCR1 protein, human; C448908:HAVCR2 protein, human; D000072596:Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 1; D000072597:Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2; C508598:IL4 protein, human; C105032:LGALS9 protein, human; D008024:Ligands; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011991:Receptors, Virus; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma