Interaction of Tim-3 and Tim-3 ligand regulates T helper type 1 responses and induction of peripheral tolerance
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Updated: Aug 30, 2026

Characterization of Thymus-dependent and Thymus-independent Immunoglobulin Isotype Responses in Mice Using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay
Published on: September 7, 2018
Catherine A Sabatos1, Sumone Chakravarti, Eugene Cha
1Department of Neurology, Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
T helper type 1 (T(H)1) immune responses are central in cell-mediated immunity, and a T(H)1-specific cell surface molecule called Tim-3 (T cell immunoglobulin domain, mucin domain) has been identified. Here we report the identification of a secreted form of Tim-3 that contains only the immunoglobulin (Ig) variable (V) domain of the full-length molecule. Fusion proteins (Tim-3-Ig) of both Tim-3 isoforms specifically bound CD4(+) T cells, indicating that a Tim-3 ligand is expressed on CD4(+) T cells. Administration of Tim-3-Ig to immunized mice caused hyperproliferation of T(H)1 cells and T(H)1 cytokine release. Tim-3-Ig also abrogated tolerance induction in T(H)1 cells, and Tim-3-deficient mice were refractory to the induction of high-dose tolerance. These data indicate that interaction of Tim-3 with Tim-3 ligand may serve to inhibit effector T(H)1 cells during a normal immune response and may be crucial for the induction of peripheral tolerance.
T helper type 1 (T(H)1) immune responses are central in cell-mediated immunity, and a T(H)1-specific cell surface molecule called Tim-3 (T cell immunoglobulin domain, mucin domain) has been identified. Here we report the identification of a secreted form of Tim-3 that contains only the immunoglobulin (Ig) variable (V) domain of the full-length molecule. Fusion proteins (Tim-3-Ig) of both Tim-3 isoforms specifically bound CD4(+) T cells, indicating that a Tim-3 ligand is expressed on CD4(+) T cells. Administration of Tim-3-Ig to immunized mice caused hyperproliferation of T(H)1 cells and T(H)1 cytokine release. Tim-3-Ig also abrogated tolerance induction in T(H)1 cells, and Tim-3-deficient mice were refractory to the induction of high-dose tolerance. These data indicate that interaction of Tim-3 with Tim-3 ligand may serve to inhibit effector T(H)1 cells during a normal immune response and may be crucial for the induction of peripheral tolerance.
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