Modulation of mast cell function by TIM-1 signaling (177.4)

Abstract

Abstract Transmembrane, immunoglobulin and mucin domain (TIM)-1 belongs to a family of transmembrane proteins with emerging roles in immune modulation. As a putative atopy susceptibility gene, polymorphisms in human and mouse TIM-1 are associated with atopic diseases, including asthma and atopic dermatitis. Antibodies targeting different extracellular domains of Tim-1 either attenuated or exacerbated airway inflammation in a mouse model of asthma. Recent studies found that Tim-1 is expressed on mast cells. Tim-1 crosslinking by its ligand Tim-4 enhanced secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in IgE and Ag-activated bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs). However, the mechanism(s) by which Tim-1 modulates mast cell function and how Tim-1 activity may be altered by antibody treatment is unknown. We hypothesize that Tim-1 engagement provides a co-stimulatory signal to enhance mast cell degranulation and mediator release in allergic inflammation. We found that Tim-1 requires a tyrosine phosphorylation motif in its cytoplasmic tail to co-stimulate NF-AT/ AP1, NF-κB, and IL-6 promoter transcriptional activation as well as IL-6 cytokine secretion. Furthermore, IgE-Ag and Tim-1 costimulation of BMMCs using a panel of Tim-1 antibodies and its ligand Tim-4 demonstrate that IL-6 and TNF-alpha secretion can be modulated by activity of agonistic and blocking Tim-1 antibodies. These studies suggest that Tim-1 may serve as an important modulator of mast cell effector functions in atopic diseases.