Expression of T-cell immunoglobulin- and mucin-domain-containing molecule-1 (TIM-1) is increased in a mouse model of asthma and relationship to GATA-3

Life Sci. 2008 Mar 12;82(11-12):663-9. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2007.12.017. Epub 2007 Dec 28.

Abstract

It has been suggested that T-cell immunoglobulin-and mucin-domain-containing molecule-1 (TIM-1) plays an important role in the development of allergic asthma, though its molecular mechanism remains unclear. Our aim was to examine the expression of TIM-1 and Th2-associated transcription factor GATA-3 in asthmatic mice, and to evaluate the correlation of TIM-1 and GATA-3 in the pathogenesis of allergic asthma. We examined TIM-1 expression in lung tissue and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of asthmatic mice by real-time PCR and flow cytometry, respectively; we also investigated TIM-1 and GATA-3 expression in the spleen tissue of asthmatic mice by western blot. These results demonstrate that TIM-1 was significantly increased in pulmonary tissues and PBMCs in asthmatic mice after ovalbumin (OVA) challenge (P<0.05), and that the production of TIM-1 as well as GATA-3 was upregulated in the spleen of asthmatic mice. The production of TIM-1 correlated significantly with the production of GATA-3 in the spleen of asthmatic mice (r=0.753, P<0.05). The results of this study provide the first evidence that increased expression of TIM-1 in asthmatic mice is associated with the Th2-associated transcription factor GATA-3. The findings suggest a possible mechanism for how HAV infection and TIM-1 upregulation influence the development of allergic asthma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Asthma / immunology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • GATA3 Transcription Factor / immunology*
  • Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 1
  • Lung / cytology
  • Lung / immunology
  • Lung / pathology
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Spleen / metabolism

Substances

  • GATA3 Transcription Factor
  • Gata3 protein, mouse
  • Havcr1 protein, mouse
  • Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 1
  • Membrane Proteins