Immune regulation by Tim-3

T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (Tim-3) is a transmembrane protein that in both mice and humans has been shown to possess various functions in a context-dependent manner. Thus, Tim-3 has been associated with both inhibitory and co-stimulatory function, depending in part on the specific cell type and immune response course. Though originally described on T cells, Tim-3 is now known to be expressed by both lymphoid and non-lymphoid cells within the immune system and even by non-immune cells. In addition, though widely thought of as a negative regulator of immunity, Tim-3 has been shown in more recent studies to have a positive function on both myeloid and lymphoid cells, including T cells. Tim-3 is often expressed at a high level on exhausted T cells in tumors and chronic infection and may engage in crosstalk with other so-called “checkpoint” molecules such as PD-1. Thus, Tim-3 has emerged as a possible therapeutic target, which is being actively explored both pre-clinically and clinically. However, recent research suggests a more complex in vivo role for this protein, compared with other targets in this area.