Not available outside of the UK & Ireland.

Biochem/physiol Actions

The T cell/transmembrane, immunoglobulin and mucin (TIM) family plays a crucial role in regulating immune responses, such as allergy, asthma, transplant tolerance, autoimmunity and also has a control over the response to viral infections. The unique structure of TIM immunoglobulin variable region domains allows highly specific recognition of phosphatidylserine (PtdSer), exposed on the surface of apoptotic cells. Tim-3 generates an inhibitory signal resulting in apoptosis of Type 1 T-helper (Th1) and Type 1 CD8⁺ T (Tc1) cells. It can also mediate phagocytosis of apoptotic cells and cross-presentation of antigen. It functions to inhibit aggressive Th1-mediated auto- and allo-immune responses. Tim-3 pathway blockade by administration of Tim-3: Fc fusion protein accelerates diabetes in non-obese diabetic mice, causes hyperproliferation of Th1 cells and Th1 cytokine release in an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model and prevents acquisition of transplantation tolerance induced by costimulation blockade.

General description

Tim-3 is a type I transmembrane protein. It contains an immunoglobulin and a mucin-like domain in its extracellular portion and a tyrosine phosphorylation motif in its cytoplasmic portion. TIM-3 is preferentially expressed on Type 1 T-helper (Th1) and Type 1 CD8⁺ T (Tc1) cells. TIM-3 is also expressed on some dendritic cells. The gene encoding this protein is localized on mouse chromosome 11B1.1.

Other Notes

The extracellular domain of mouse Tim-3 (aa 21-189) is fused to the N-terminus of the Fc region of human IgG1.

Physical form

Lyophilized from 0.2 µm-filtered solution in PBS.

Reconstitution

Reconstitute at 100 µg/mL in sterile PBS.