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Negative Co-Receptors and Ligands pp 1–15Cite as

TIM-3 and Its Regulatory Role in Immune Responses

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Part of the book series: Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology ((CT MICROBIOLOGY,volume 350))

Abstract

T cell immunoglobulin mucin-(TIM)-3 was first identified as a molecule specifically expressed on IFN-γ-secreting CD4+ T helper 1 (Th1) and CD8+ T cytotoxic (Tc1) cells in both mice and humans. TIM-3 acts as a negative regulator of Th1/Tc1 cell function by triggering cell death upon interaction with its ligand, galectin-9. This negative regulatory function of TIM-3 has now been expanded to include its involvement in establishing and/or maintaining a state of T cell dysfunction or “exhaustion” observed in chronic viral diseases. In addition, it is now appreciated that TIM-3 has other ligands and is expressed on other cell types, where it may function differently. Given that an increasing body of data support an important role for TIM-3 in both autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases in humans, deciphering the function of TIM-3 on different cell types during different immune conditions and how these can be regulated will be critical for harnessing the therapeutic potential of TIM-3 for the treatment of disease.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Chen Zhu, Ana C. Anderson & Vijay K. Kuchroo

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  1. Chen Zhu
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  2. Ana C. Anderson
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  3. Vijay K. Kuchroo
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Correspondence to Vijay K. Kuchroo .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Emory Vaccine Center &, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Gatewood Rd. 954, Atlanta, 30329, Georgia, USA

    Rafi Ahmed

  2. Fac. Medicine, Dept. Medical Chemistry and Molecular, Kyoto University, Yoshida Konoe-cho, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan

    Tasuku Honjo

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Zhu, C., Anderson, A.C., Kuchroo, V.K. (2010). TIM-3 and Its Regulatory Role in Immune Responses. In: Ahmed, R., Honjo, T. (eds) Negative Co-Receptors and Ligands. Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology, vol 350. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/82_2010_84

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