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Review

The role of TIM-containing molecules in airway disease and their potential as therapeutic targets

, &
Pages 77-87 | Published online: 14 Aug 2012

Abstract

T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain (TIM)-containing molecules have emerged as promising therapeutic targets to correct abnormal immune function in several autoimmune and chronic inflammatory conditions. Despite the initial discovery linking TIM-containing molecules and the airway hyperreactivity regulatory locus in mice, there is a paucity of studies on the function of TIM-containing molecules in lung inflammatory disease. Initially, studies were limited to mice models of asthma. More recently however, TIM-containing molecules have been implicated in an ever-expanding list of airway conditions that includes pneumonia, tuberculosis, influenza, sarcoidosis, lung cancer, and cystic fibrosis. This present review discusses the role of TIM-containing molecules and their ligands in the lung, as well as their potential as therapeutic targets in airway disease.

Introduction

T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain (TIM) molecules are key regulators of immune responses.Citation1Citation4 TIM proteins have also been associated with several human inflammatory conditions,Citation3,Citation5 including rheumatoid arthritis,Citation6 asthma,Citation7 systemic lupus erythematosus,Citation1 multiple sclerosis,Citation8 diabetes,Citation9 and, more recently, in tumorCitation10,Citation11 and antimicrobial immunity.Citation12 However, the role of TIM-containing molecules in airway disease is only beginning to be unraveled. In this review, we consolidate the literature to discuss the prospective role of TIM-containing molecules as key inflammatory mediators with the potential to be utilized as therapeutic targets in the treatment of a variety of human diseases. Our literature review was carried out using the MEDLINE® database (from 1987 to 2012),Citation13 Google Scholar,Citation14 and The Cochrane LibraryCitation15 database using several appropriate generic terms.

TIM structure and signaling

The TIM gene family is encoded on chromosome 11B1.1 in mice (TIM1-8) and chromosome 5q33.2 in humans. There are four TIM proteins characterized in mice – TIM-1, TIM-2, TIM-3, and TIM-4 – but only three members of the family have been identified in humans: TIM-1, TIM-3, and TIM-4. Human TIM-3 shares 63% homology with mouse TIM-3 and TIM-4 shares 49% homology with the mouse ortholog TIM-4. In contrast, human TIM-1 does not seem to have a clear ortholog in mouse as it shares 42% and 32% amino-acid sequence with murine TIM-1 and TIM-2, respectively.Citation16 All TIM-containing molecules share a similar structure as type I membrane proteins, consisting of an N-terminal immunoglobulin variable (IgV)-like domain, a mucin-like domain, a transmembrane region, and an intracellular tail ().

Figure 1 Schematic representation of mouse and human T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain (TIM)-containing molecules.

Notes: Protein structure and positions of the glycosylated sites of mouse TIM-1, −2, −3 and −4 and human TIM-1, −3 and −4 are shown. N-glycosylation in the immunoglobulin-domain and at different positions close to the membrane and O-glycosylation in the mucin-domain are positioned approximately.
Abbreviations: IgV, immunoglobulin variable; PtdSer, phosphatidylserine.
Figure 1 Schematic representation of mouse and human T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain (TIM)-containing molecules.

Human TIM IgV-like domains share 40% homology and are cysteine rich, suggestive of a highly cross-linked structure.Citation17 In contrast, the mucin-domain presents in an extended conformation. The size of the mucin-domain varies depending on the receptor, with TIM-3 being the shortest. TIM-1 and TIM-3 are involved in intracellular signaling through tyrosine-phosphorylation motifs in the cytoplasmatic domain, whereas TIM-4 does not contain a conserved motif, indicating that it exerts its function by association with other receptors. An important feature of TIM-containing molecule structure is the high level of glycosylation that enables ligand bindingCitation17 and increases resistance to proteolytic cleavage. All TIM receptors are predicted to be N-glycosylated in the immunoglobulin (Ig)-domain and at different positions close to the membrane, and O-glycosylated in the mucin-domain. However, the level of glycosylation varies from one predicted site in TIM-3 to up to 57 in TIM-1 ().

TIM-1 was initially identified as hepatitis A virus receptor in monkeysCitation18 and in humans.Citation19 It was also cloned as kidney injury molecule-1.Citation20 TIM-1 is overexpressed in injured renal epithelium and can be cleaved off the cell membrane by metalloproteases. Citation21 Shedded TIM-1 can be detected in urine after kidney injury and it has been proposed as a urinary marker of renal injury.Citation20,Citation22 Interest in TIM-containing molecules has grown dramatically since the discovery of differential TIM expression in T helper (Th) cells and their immunomodulatory properties. TIM-1 is expressed in Th-2 cells, whereas TIM-3 is found in Th-1 cells.Citation8 TIM signaling has mostly been studied in Th cells in mice. However, the TIM-1 signaling mechanisms in Th-2 cells are poorly understood. Studies in mice suggest that, in contrast to TIM-3, TIM-1 acts as a positive regulator of Th-2 cell function,Citation23 whereas TIM-2 has been shown to act as a negative regulator of Th-2 responses.Citation24 A TIM-2 human ortholog has not been identified, despite its close sequence homology with murine TIM-1.

Unlike other members of the TIM family, TIM-4 is not expressed in T cells but is found in antigen-presenting cells, including dendritic cells and macrophages.Citation16 The exact role of TIM-4 is not fully understood. TIM-4 in macrophages has been found to bind phosphatidylserine on apoptotic cells, mediating apoptotic body clearanceCitation25,Citation26 and raising the possibility of a role in the development of tolerance.Citation27 In addition, TIM-4 is believed to bind to TIM-1 or self-ligate and act as a co-stimulatory molecule of T cell function.Citation4 TIM-4 function in T cells is complex and appears to work in a bimodal fashion. Both inhibitory and stimulatory responses have been reported depending on the activation status of the T cell, the level of TIM-4 expression, and whether co-stimulatory cells express TIM-4.Citation4,Citation16 Thus, TIM-4 is capable of modulating the immune response despite the absence of downstream cytosolic signaling motifs.

TIM-3 signaling in Th-1 cells is better characterized. Galectin-9 binds to TIM-3 in a glycosylation-dependent manner (). Although the downstream signaling events remain poorly characterized, TIM-3 activation causes phosphorylation of the tyrosine motif Y265 in the cytosolic domain.Citation28 Other tyrosine residues of TIM-3 appear to be responsible for signal transduction in T cell receptor-dependent mechanisms.Citation29 TIM-3 engagement by galectin-9 has been shown to induce apoptosis of Th-1 cells.Citation30 Blockade of galectin–TIM-3 interaction induced an exacerbation of Th-1-driven immune response and increased the level of macrophage activation in a mouse model of autoimmune disease. Citation31 In humans, TIM-3 blockade with monoclonal antibodies revealed that human TIM-3 signaling regulates cytokine expression at the transcriptional level rather than controlling Th-1 cell expansion as it does in mice.Citation32 Collectively, these data suggest an inhibitory role for TIM-3 in Th-1-driven immunity.

Figure 2 Schematic representation of T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain (TIM)-containing proteins and their ligands. (A) TIM-1 can bind to phosphatidylserine on apoptotic bodies through the FG-CC′ binding region in the N-terminal immunoglobulin variable (IgV) domain conferring phagocytic characteristics to epithelial cells. TIM-1 can also bind to soluble TIM-4 or ligate to itself, leading to T cell activation and T-helper (Th)-2 expansion. (B) TIM-3 binds to galectin-9 (Gal-9) through N-linked carbohydrates in the IgV domain, driving a Th-1-mediated inflammatory response.

Note: The ligand binding to the FG-CC′ cleft on the opposite side of the IgV domain has not yet been identified.
Figure 2 Schematic representation of T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain (TIM)-containing proteins and their ligands. (A) TIM-1 can bind to phosphatidylserine on apoptotic bodies through the FG-CC′ binding region in the N-terminal immunoglobulin variable (IgV) domain conferring phagocytic characteristics to epithelial cells. TIM-1 can also bind to soluble TIM-4 or ligate to itself, leading to T cell activation and T-helper (Th)-2 expansion. (B) TIM-3 binds to galectin-9 (Gal-9) through N-linked carbohydrates in the IgV domain, driving a Th-1-mediated inflammatory response.

TIM-3 has also been reported to play a role in the induction of peripheral tolerance. Blockade of TIM-3 function by administration of soluble TIM-3 prevented the development of tolerance in Th-1 cells.Citation33 Furthermore, TIM-3-deficient mice are resistant to tolerance induction by administration of high-dose antigen.Citation33 TIM-3 has been shown to regulate both auto- and allo-immune tolerance by modulating T-regulatory cell-mediated inflammatory responses.Citation9 This TIM-3 function has been confirmed in a murine model of graft-versus-host disease.Citation34 Perhaps one of the most exciting functions of TIM-3 is its role in T cell exhaustion during chronic viral infections and in tumor immunity (). Indeed, blockade of TIM-3 in these settings restored normal T cell function.Citation10,Citation11 More recently, it was discovered that TIM-3 is also expressed in other subsets of T cells, and cells from the innate immune system including monocytes, dendritic cells, mast cells, and microglia.Citation3,Citation4 Thus, the role of TIM-3 is not limited to the adaptive immune response. For instance, TIM-3 is involved in macrophage phagocyticCitation35 and bactericidal activity.Citation12,Citation36

Figure 3 Model of T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain (TIM)-containing molecule-3 function in the immune response. (A) During acute inflammation, TIM-3 is expressed on terminally differentiated interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)-producing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. TIM-3-expressing T cells undergo apoptosis following recognition of the TIM-3 ligand galectin-9 (Gal-9). (B) During chronic inflammation, dysfunctional or exhausted CD8+ T cells express both TIM-3 and programmed death-1 receptor (PD-1).

Note: Combined targeting of the PD-1/PD-ligand 1 and TIM-3/TIM-3 ligand pathways restores CD8+ T cell effector function and ameliorates chronic disease.
Abbreviation: TCR, T cell receptor.
Figure 3 Model of T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain (TIM)-containing molecule-3 function in the immune response. (A) During acute inflammation, TIM-3 is expressed on terminally differentiated interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)-producing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. TIM-3-expressing T cells undergo apoptosis following recognition of the TIM-3 ligand galectin-9 (Gal-9). (B) During chronic inflammation, dysfunctional or exhausted CD8+ T cells express both TIM-3 and programmed death-1 receptor (PD-1).

In addition to the immunomodulatory properties, TIM-containing molecules also play an important role in apoptotic body clearance via phosphatidylserine recognition. Citation27 TIM-4Citation26 and TIM-1Citation25 have been shown to bind to phosphatidylserine and mediate phagocytosis of apoptotic cells. More recently, it was demonstrated that TIM-3 presence in the phagocytic cup is required for apoptotic clearance by macrophages.Citation35 The expression of TIM receptors confers phagocytic properties even in “nonprofessional” phagocytic cells. Indeed, TIM-1 expression in endothelial cells has been reported to confer phagocytic capacity to this cell type.Citation3,Citation37

Galectin-9 signaling through TIM-3

Galectin-9 was identified as the first ligand of TIM-3.Citation30 In line with its lectin nature, galectin-9 binds to TIM-3 in a carbohydrate-dependent manner, interacting with the N-glycosylated site in the IgV domain. Galectins have been shown to regulate immune homeostasis and inflammation.Citation38 Mammalian galectins comprise a large family of S-lectin proteins characterized by their affinity for β-galactosidase sugars and the conserved specific sequence motif in the carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD).Citation39

Human galectins have been grouped into three classes according to their structure ():Citation40 (1) prototypical galectins, which contain a single CRD and may appear associated in the form of homodimers; (2) chimeric galectins, which contain a single CRD and a long amino-terminal domain; and (3) tandem-repeat galectins, which contain two CRD domains linked by a small peptide chain. Galectin-9 belongs to the tandem-repeat class. To date, three galectin-9 isoforms have been identified that only differ in the length of the polypeptide linker region (). The short-size galectin-9 has a peptide linker of 14 amino acids and the medium- and the long-size forms have a linker of 26 and 58 amino acids, respectively.Citation41 This relatively long polypeptide chain makes galectin-9 very susceptible to proteolytic cleavage,Citation42 resulting in inactivation of the molecule.Citation43 Recently, a recombinant form of galectin-9 lacking the linker chain has been shown to be functional and resistant to proteases ().Citation42

Figure 4 The different types of galectins in humans.

Notes: Human galectins have been classified according to their structure into prototypical, chimeric, and tandem repeat. The oval domain represents the carbohydrate recognition domain (CDR). Prototypical galectins such as galectin-1 contain only one type of CDR, chimeric galectin-3 contains a single CDR attached to a long polypeptide chain, whereas tandem-repeat galectins such as galectin-9 consist of two different CDRs connected by an inter-domain polypeptide linker.
Figure 4 The different types of galectins in humans.

Figure 5 Schematic representation of galectin-9 isoforms structure.

Notes: Sequencing of galectin-9 revealed isoforms of different sizes differing only in the linker peptide region length (small [s], medium [m], and long [l]). The structure of proteolytically resistant recombinant galectin-9 (rhgalectin-9 [gal9Null]) is also shown.Citation42
Abbreviation: CRD, carbohydrate recognition domain.
Figure 5 Schematic representation of galectin-9 isoforms structure.

Galectin-9 was first identified in embryonic mouse kidney and found to be ubiquitously expressed in mouse and rat tissue.Citation44 Galectin-9 is also widely distributed in human tissues and expressed in several cell types.Citation45 Galectin-9 expression has been reported in epithelial tissues such as endometrium,Citation46 cervix,Citation47 and intestine.Citation48 Galectin-9 expression in the oral-nasopharyngeal tract has been located to fibroblasts in nasal polyps,Citation49 periodontal ligaments in the oral cavity,Citation50 and Epstein–Barr virus-related nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.Citation51 Galectin-9Citation52 is also abundantly expressed in human endothelial cellsCitation52,Citation53 and melanocytesCitation54 and is broadly expressed in the immune system, including in bone marrow, the spleen, the thymus, and lymph nodes. Within immune cells, galectin-9 expression has been demonstrated in myeloid lineage cellsCitation55 including Kupffer cells,Citation56 microglia,Citation57 astrocytes,Citation58 dendritic cells,Citation59 and macrophages. Citation12 Galectin-9 has also been shown to be constitutively expressed in mast cellsCitation54 and, to a lesser extent, in the Jurkat T lymphocyte cell line.Citation41 Regulatory T cells also express galectin-9.Citation60 Although galectin-9 was not detected in human promyelocytic leukemia cells, it was found to be expressed in neutrophils in the lung of ovalbumin-challenged mice.Citation61 The most interesting feature of galectin-9 expression is that, although most immune cells exhibit constitutive expression, the extent of expression depends on the stage of cell activation and differentiation.Citation62 For instance, galectin-9 mRNA expression has been reported to be induced in peripheral blood monocytic cells after allergen stimulation.Citation45 Galectin-9 expression is also raised in eosinophils from hyper-eosinophilic patients.Citation63

It has been proposed that galectin-9 may have a complex role in inflammation homeostasis by exerting pro-and anti-inflammatory events depending on either the concentration at sites of inflammation or cell type.Citation64 Galectin-9 binding to TIM-3 has been shown to reduce interferon-gamma production by inducing apoptosis of Th-1 cells.Citation30 Conversely, galectin-9 treatment induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha production by mast cells.Citation65 Thus, galectin-9/TIM-3 signaling can initiate or terminate the inflammatory response by positively regulating maturation of innate cells, antigen presentation and pathogen clearance, and limiting an excessive immune response, especially that mediated by T cells.Citation66

Disruption of galectin-9–TIM-3 interaction is commonly used to examine the mechanisms behind this signaling axis in several models of disease. summarizes the different approaches adopted to block TIM-3 engagement by galectin-9 via N-glycosylation of the receptor. Intriguingly, galectin-9 interaction with a yet unidentified membrane glycoprotein has recently been shown to block Th-17 function via O-glycosylation. In addition to TIM-3, galectin-9 has also been reported to bind to other glycoproteins containing β-galactosides in their structure, including CD44, a surface receptor expressed on epithelial cells involved in cell-matrix adhesion and interaction;Citation67,Citation68 IgE;Citation69 glucose transporter 2;Citation70 and Epstein–Barr virus latent membrane protein-1.Citation51

Figure 6 Schematic representations of T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain (TIM)-containing molecule-3–galectin-9 interaction disruption strategies. (A) Galectin-9 binds to the TIM-3 immunoglobulin variable domain via carbohydrate interactions.Citation30 (B) Blockade of TIM-3 by anti-TIM-3 antibody (Ab). (C) Soluble human recombinant TIM-3-Fc chimeric protein (rhTIM-3-Fc) acts as a galectin-9 scavenger receptor, preventing TIM-3–galectin-9 interaction. (D) Galectin-9 preferentially binds to excess lactose in solution due to galactosidase affinity.

Figure 6 Schematic representations of T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain (TIM)-containing molecule-3–galectin-9 interaction disruption strategies. (A) Galectin-9 binds to the TIM-3 immunoglobulin variable domain via carbohydrate interactions.Citation30 (B) Blockade of TIM-3 by anti-TIM-3 antibody (Ab). (C) Soluble human recombinant TIM-3-Fc chimeric protein (rhTIM-3-Fc) acts as a galectin-9 scavenger receptor, preventing TIM-3–galectin-9 interaction. (D) Galectin-9 preferentially binds to excess lactose in solution due to galactosidase affinity.

TIM-containing molecules in airway disease

The TIM gene family was located to a section of chromosome 11 in mice syntenic to human chromosome 5q23–35.Citation71 This region was identified as a novel gene locus for human atopic disease (ie, asthma, allergy, and eczema) in a study comparing congenic mouse strains with different susceptibility to asthma. Despite the initial discovery linking TIM and the airway hyperreactivity regulatory locus (Tapr) in mice,Citation71 there is a paucity of studies on the function of TIM-containing molecules in lung inflammatory disease. Most of the existing studies were carried out in mice models of asthma. More recently, TIM-containing molecules have been implicated in sarcoidosis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, influenza, and cystic fibrosis ().

Table 1 T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain (TIM)-containing molecules in airway disease

TIM-1 in airway disease

Although the role of TIM-1 and TIM-3 in the development of lung allergy has recently been questioned in a study using knockout mice,Citation72 TIM-1 expression has been reported to be upregulated in the lung of asthmatic mice.Citation73 Indeed, blockade of mouse TIM-1 decreased the Th-2-type immune response and airway inflammation in a murine model of asthma in a number of studies.Citation23,Citation74,Citation75 Blockade of TIM-1 with anti-TIM-1 antibody during initial challenge with antigen prevented airway hyperresponsiveness in a mouse model.Citation74 Using a similar approach, a second group reported that administration of anti-TIM-1 antibody between sensitization and allergen exposure also reduced airway hyperresponsiveness.Citation23 Interestingly, TIM-1 ligation with monoclonal antibodies induced either positive or negative effects in a mouse allergy model, depending on the antibody. Antibodies recognizing the stalk or IgV domain attenuated inflammation, indicating that ligation of this TIM-1 region promotes inhibitory functions. In contrast, antibodies directed against the mucin-domain activated the inflammatory response.Citation75 Therefore, therapeutic use of anti-TIM-1 antibodies in asthma emerges as a promising novel treatment approach, although special attention to the TIM-1 epitope recognized by the antibody is required. Consistent with the previous results, antagonism of human TIM-1 in a humanized murine model of experimental asthma has been shown to have positive therapeutic effects.Citation76 In this study, blockade of TIM-1 with A6G2, an antibody against the IgV domain, ameliorated inflammation and airway hyper-responsiveness in severe combined immunodeficiency mice adoptively transferred with peripheral blood monocytic cells from asthmatic patients. The effects of TIM-1 inhibition were exerted via suppression of Th-2 cell proliferation and cytokine production, providing encouraging data in support of the use of TIM-1 targeted antibodies for the treatment of asthma.

Despite the increasing body of work in mouse models of lung disease, there are virtually no studies in humans supporting the role of TIM-1 in airway inflammation (). Recently, T cells obtained from peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of non-Löfgren sarcoidosis patients exhibited lower TIM-1 expression than those of sarcoidosis patients with Löfgren.Citation77 Non-Löfgren patients exhibit a marked Th-1 inflammatory response and often present with a less favorable prognosis than Löfgren patients. Since an imbalance towards a Th-1 phenotype is believed to be the hallmark of airway inflammatory response in sarcoidosis, the study by Idali and colleagues suggested that downregulation of TIM-1 in Th cells was linked to a higher Th-1 response.Citation77 However, TIM-1 regulatory properties in airway disease are not limited to T cells, as it has been shown that TIM-1 engagement in natural killer cells exacerbated lung injury in a bleomycin model of pulmonary fibrosis by suppressing interferon-gamma production.Citation78

Clearly, a more detailed knowledge of the exact mechanisms underpinning TIM-1 signaling in airway disease is required before expanding the findings obtained from murine models to human studies. Alternatively, a better understanding of the molecular pathways underlying TIM-1 function may open a new area of research involving development of agonistic and/or antagonistic modulators of TIM-1 function; however, to date, such compounds have not been reported.

A role for TIM-2 in respiratory disease

Given that TIM-2, unlike the other TIM proteins discussed in this review, is not expressed in humans, the potential of this molecule to be a therapeutic target in human lung disease is very limited. Nevertheless, several studies support the role of TIM-2 as a modulator of Th-2 responses in mouse models. Blockade of TIM-2 with recombinant TIM-2 (TIM-2-Ig) was sufficient to mount a Th-2 immune response and ameliorate disease progression in a model of autoimmune encephalitis. Additionally, the TIM-2 knockout murine model displays an exacerbated Th-2-driven response in a model of ovalbumin-induced airway inflammation.Citation7 Semaphorin-4A is a recognized TIM-2 ligand,Citation79 yet semaphorin-4A-deficient mice develop exaggerated Th-2 phenotypes, supporting TIM-2 as an inhibitor of Th-2 responses.Citation80 TIM-2 was also identified as a specific heavy chain ferritin (H-ferritin) receptor leading to endocytosis of extracellular H-ferritin in liverCitation81 and brain.Citation82 H-ferritin has been reported to display immunological properties, mainly as a regulator of proliferation and differentiation of immune cells.Citation83 Interestingly, elevated levels of H-ferritin were found in cystic fibrosis BAL fluid compared with levels found in other inflammatory respiratory conditions.Citation84 A link between high levels of ferritin and altered TIM expression has been suggested but not formally demonstrated.Citation5 Nevertheless, none of the human TIM receptors appear to bind H-ferritin.Citation27 Since murine TIM-2 does not have a human ortholog,Citation24 whether another human TIM receptor can adopt the Th-2 inhibitory function described in miceCitation85 remains to be elucidated.

TIM-3 and airway infection and disease

TIM-3 has also been implicated in the development of asthma (). Given the role of TIM-3 as a negative regulator of Th-1 mediated immunity, blockade of TIM-3 may prove useful in the treatment of this disease. Indeed, blockade of TIM-3 with a specific antibody reduced airway hyper-reactivity and induced a switch from Th-2- to Th-1-type response in a murine experimental model.Citation86 Consistent with these results, expression of TIM-3 in CD4+ cells was increased after ovalbumin challenge in a mouse model of asthma,Citation87 further supporting TIM-3 as a negative regulator of Th-1 mediated immunity. In line with the described TIM-3 function, low levels of TIM-3 expression in CD4+ cells from peripheral blood and BAL were correlated with an increased Th-1-type immune response in sarcoidosis,Citation77 a prototypical Th-1 inflammatory disease. Additionally, the role of TIM-3 as a phosphatidylserine receptor has been suggested to be involved in the development of airway hyperresponsiveness, as efficient clearance of apoptotic cells is crucial in preventing development of atopy.Citation88 Thus, targeting the TIM-3 inhibitory pathway may represent a novel approach to restore the Th-1/Th-2 response balance in airway disease.

TIM-3 has also been suggested to be involved in the regulation of the inflammatory response to airway infection. In a mouse model of Klebsiella pneumoniae-induced pneumonia, administration of galectin-9 induced apoptosis of Th-17 cells and reduction of IL-17 generation, which, in this model, proved crucial for bacterial clearance in the lung. Decreased IL-17 production led to impaired neutrophil recruitment into the airways with subsequent reduced bacterial clearance and higher mortality.Citation89 These results suggest an important role for TIM-3/galectin-9 in termination of Th-17-mediated immune responses. Regulation of TIM-3 function in CD8 T cells was shown to be critical to mount an adequate immune response against viral infection.Citation90 Blockade of TIM-3–galectin-9 interaction by administration of a recombinant TIM-3 protein improved the immune response in a mouse model of influenza A virus infection.Citation90 Moreover, galectin-9 knockout mice were refractory to influenza A virus infection. Taking these results together, the indication is that Tim-3–galectin-9 interaction works to limit the extent and potency of the T cell responses to pathogen infection. Since TIM-3 function has proved to be critical during infection, targeting the TIM-3/galectin-9 pathway may be a viable approach. It is worth noting that the level of inhibition appears to be crucial, as it should effectively limit an exacerbated inflammatory response but should avoid an excessive repression of the immune response that could result in defective pathogen clearance. Thus, the TIM-3 targeting agent should preferably be delivered locally rather than systemically.

TIM-3 and its ligand galectin-9 were found to be constitutively overexpressed in human bronchial epithelium from cystic fibrosis patients.Citation91 Both ligand and receptor were further expressed following exposure to lipopolysaccharide from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which emphasizes the role of TIM-3 under inflammatory conditions. However, in the cystic fibrosis lung, both TIM-3 and its ligand galectin-9 undergo rapid degradation by neutrophil-derived proteases – in particular, neutrophil elastase and proteinase 3 – potentially contributing to the defective bacterial clearance observed within the cystic fibrosis lung despite the high neutrophilic presence. In line with these observations, in addition to targeted delivery of the TIM-3 effector molecule to the lungs, this molecule should be designed to be resistant to proteolytic cleavage to be an effective agent.

The role of TIM-3 in pathogen infection goes beyond orchestration of the humoral and cellular immune responses. A novel role for TIM-3 in airway infection was recently revealed:Citation12 in this study, TIM-3 was shown to act as a ligand and to stimulate galectin-9 expressed on the surface of macrophages. Through unidentified mechanisms, galectin-9 engagement on infected macrophages triggered IL-1β production and subsequent Mycobacterium tuberculosis intracellular clearance. The study, by Jayaraman and colleagues, suggested that TIM-3 expressed on Th-1 cells can modulate macrophage-mediated bacterial killing.Citation12 This constitutes the first report on the role of TIM-3 as a ligand, in addition to the prototypical role as a Th-1 receptor capable of modulating the inflammatory response. These studies open a new area of TIM-3 research on the role of this molecule in bacterial infection.

Galectin-9 in airway disease

Galectin-9 has been shown to be involved in airway disease via TIM-3-dependent and-independent mechanisms (). Galectin-9 expression was found to be elevated in lung tissue in animal models of asthma.Citation61,Citation92 This overexpression of galectin-9 was found to correlate with an increase in Th-2 cytokines and increased cell counts in the lungs, particularly eosinophils. A similar correlation between elevated galectin-9 and high eosinophil counts was reported in patients with acute and chronic eosinophilic pneumonia.Citation93 Interestingly, administration of recombinant galectin-9 attenuated lung inflammation in a mouse model of asthma, which highlights the use of recombinant galectin-9 as a promising therapeutic agent.Citation69 In this study, galectin-9 inhibited mast-cell degranulation by disrupting IgE/antigen complex formation. Recombinant galectin-9 administration also ameliorated lung inflammation in a mouse model of asthma due to inhibition of CD44–hyaluronic acid interaction, which is required for recruitment of leukocytes into the airways.Citation67 The study also showed that galectin-9 can induce apoptosis of eosinophils, thereby reducing disease severity in this asthma model.

Table 2 Galectin-9 in airway disease

Galectin-9 has been shown to affect antimicrobial immunity in two distinct manners. First, galectin-9 stimulates immune responses via recruitment of immune cells. Secondly, galectin-9 can limit the adaptive immune response, in particular, the T cell response, while promoting the expansion of regulatory cells.Citation94 Of interest, a recent publication reported a novel role for galectin-9 in antimicrobial immunity.Citation12 This latter study described for the first time a reversal of TIM-3/galectin-9 signaling pathway whereby galectin-9 acted as a receptor in infected macrophages and was stimulated via interactions with TIM-3 expressed on adjacent Th-1 cells.

Conclusion

The data described so far emphasize a role for TIM-containing molecules as modulators of the immune response in the airways. TIM-containing molecules emerge as ideal candidates for therapeutic intervention in the lung at several levels. First, TIM-containing molecules may effect the inflammatory response in the airways due to their direct role in promoting generation of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators. Secondly, TIM-containing molecules may act as regulators of cellular homeostasis in the lung via induction of selective apoptosis of immune cells and preferential expansion of regulatory cells via galectin-9 interactions. Additionally, TIM-containing molecules may also help fight lung infections, as they have been shown to be involved in viral recognition and phagocytic cell function. Therefore, manipulation of the TIM-regulated mechanisms may prove beneficial in human airway disease. TIM pathways may be modulated by specific antibodies directed towards well-defined regions of the receptor, recombinant proteins containing the precise agonist/antagonist motifs, or small-molecule drugs. In addition, treatments aimed at modulating TIM-regulated pathways should consider delivery of newly developed drugs to specific areas in the body for localized treatment.

Acknowledgments

Preparation of this article was supported by grants from the Health Research Board Ireland (grant number PHD/2007/11) and the Program for Research in Third Level Institutes (PRTLI) administered by the Higher Education Authority.

Disclosure

None of the authors has a financial relationship with a commercial entity that has an interest in the subject of the presented manuscript.

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