The Role of T Cell Immunoglobulin Mucin Domains 1 and 4 in a Herpes Simplex Virus-Induced Behçet’s Disease Mouse Model

Abstract EN

The T cell immunoglobulin mucin (TIM) proteins regulate T cell activation and tolerance.

TIM-1 plays an important role in the regulation of immune responses and the development of autoimmune diseases.

TIM-4 is a natural ligand of TIM-1, and the interaction of TIM-1 and TIM-4 is involved in the regulation of T helper (Th) cell responses and modulation of the Th1/Th2 cytokine balance.

Behçet’s disease (BD) is a chronic, multisystemic inflammatory disorder with arthritic, intestinal, mucocutaneous, ocular, vascular, and central nervous system involvement.

Tim-1 expression was lower in a herpes simplex virus-induced BD mouse model compared to that in asymptomatic BD normal (BDN) mice.

Tim-4 expression was higher in BD mice than that in BDN mice.

In this study, we investigated the Tim expression in a BD mouse model with BD-like symptoms.

Tim-1 and Tim-4 expression was regulated by an expression vector or siRNA injected into the BD mouse model.

The Tim-1 vector injected into BD mice resulted in changes in BD-like symptoms and decreased the severity score.

Treatment with Tim-4 siRNA also improved BD-like symptoms and decreased the severity score accompanied by upregulation of regulatory T cells.

We showed that regulating Tim-1 or Tim-4 affected BD-like symptoms in mice.