Clinical significance of Tim3-positive T cell subsets in patients with multiple sclerosis

The present study evaluated associations between the percentages of T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (Tim3)-positive T cells and related cytokines and multiple sclerosis (MS). We collected peripheral blood samples from 30 MS patients and 30 healthy controls. Flow cytometry was used to determine the proportions of CD3⁺Tim3⁺, CD4⁺Tim3⁺, and CD4⁺CD25⁺Tim3⁺ in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and related cell subsets. The serum concentrations of galectin-9, IL-17, and IFN-γ also were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The percentages of Tim3-positive T cells in CD4⁺ and CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cell subsets were significantly lower among MS patients than among controls. This difference was particularly evident in the CD4⁺CD25(high) T cell subset. The proportions of CD4⁺Tim3⁺ and CD4⁺CD25⁺Tim3⁺ cells in PBMCs were significantly lower in the MS group than in the control group, whereas no significant differences were detected regarding the percentages of CD3⁺Tim3⁺ in PBMCs and T cell subsets. The serum concentrations of galectin-9, IL-17, and IFN-γ all were increased in MS patients compared with healthy controls. Our results support that Tim3 and related cytokines may be involved in the onset of MS.