Downregulation of TIM-3 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

The T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain (TIM) family is associated with autoimmune diseases, but its expression level in the immune cells of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients is not known. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the expression of TIM-3 mRNA is associated with pathogenesis of SLE. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis (qRT-PCR) was used to determine TIM-1, TIM-3, and TIM-4 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 132 patients with SLE and 62 healthy controls. The PBMC surface protein expression of TIMs in PBMCs from 20 SLE patients and 15 healthy controls was assayed by flow cytometry. Only TIM-3 mRNA expression decreased significantly in SLE patients compared with healthy controls (P<0.001). No significant differences in TIM family protein expression were observed in leukocytes from SLE patients and healthy controls (P>0.05). SLE patients with lupus nephritis (LN) had a significantly lower expression of TIM-3 mRNA than those without LN (P=0.001). There was no significant difference in the expression of TIM-3 mRNA within different classes of LN (P>0.05). Correlation of TIM-3 mRNA expression with serum IgA was highly significant (r=0.425, P=0.004), but was weakly correlated with total serum protein (r_s=0.283, P=0.049) and serum albumin (r_s=0.297, P=0.047). TIM-3 mRNA expression was weakly correlated with the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI; r_s=-0.272, P=0.032). Our results suggest that below-normal expression of TIM-3 mRNA in PBMC may be involved in the pathogenesis of SLE.

TIM-3; Systemic lupus erythematosus; Lupus nephritis; T-helper cell

Introduction

The T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain (TIM) family consists of three genes on human chromosome 5q33.2, including the genes coding for TIM-1, TIM-3 and TIM-4 proteins (¹). It has been reported that the TIM family is associated with organ-specific inflammatory and autoimmune diseases (²-⁴). TIM-1 is preferentially expressed on T-helper 2 (Th2) cells and is clinically significant as a human susceptibility gene for asthma, allergy, and autoimmunity. TIM-4 is exclusively expressed on antigen-presenting cells, where it mediates phagocytosis of apoptotic cells and has an important role in maintaining tolerance (¹). In contrast, TIM-3 is a surface protein found on late-stage differentiated Th1 cells and inhibits aggressive Th1-mediated auto- and alloimmune responses (²).

There is increasing evidence that TIM-3 influences chronic autoimmune diseases. Galectin-9, a TIM-3 ligand, induces Th1 cell death in a TIM-3-dependent manner, and galectin-9-deficient mice become susceptible to collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) (⁵,⁶). Th17 cells and activated cytotoxic CD8+ T cells also express TIM-3 and are sensitive to galectin-9-induced apoptosis (⁶,⁷). In vivo administration of antibody to TIM-3 was reported to exacerbate the clinical and pathological severity of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a Th1/Th17-mediated autoimmune disease (⁸). The analysis of T-cell clones obtained from patients with multiple sclerosis revealed significantly lower expression of TIM-3 than seen in normal controls (⁹). Such findings indicate that TIM-3 may play an important role in the development and pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototypic autoimmune disease characterized by production of a diverse array of autoantibodies, complement activation, and deposition of immune complexes, causing tissue and organ damage. Most SLE patients develop kidney disease, and lupus nephritis (LN) is one of its most severe manifestations (¹⁰). It has been demonstrated that defects in the appropriate regulation of Th1 and Th17 cell function are implicated in the pathogenesis of SLE (¹¹,¹²). TIM-3 is preferentially expressed in Th1 and Th17 cells and may play a role in the development of SLE.

In this study, we looked for significant differences in the expression of TIM-1, TIM-3 and TIM-4 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from a relatively large population of SLE patients (n=132) and healthy controls (n=62). We found that in PBMCs from SLE patients the transcription level of only TIM-3 decreased significantly compared with healthy controls. Although TIM-1 and TIM-4 transcription increased in PBMCs from SLE patients, it did not reach statistical significance compared with healthy controls. Our results also showed that the expression of TIM-3 mRNA in SLE patients with LN was significantly lower than in those without LN. Moreover, the mRNA expression of TIM-3 correlated with several laboratory parameters, such as serum IgA, serum total protein, and serum albumin. Therefore, our results indicated that TIM-3 may participate in the pathogenesis of SLE.

Material and Methods

Human subjects

One hundred and thirty-two patients with SLE diagnosed according to the criteria of the 1982 American College of Rheumatology were enrolled along with 62 healthy sex- and age-matched controls without autoimmune disease or cancer. Peripheral blood samples were collected from all controls and from all patients before they took any immunosuppressive drugs. Informed consent was obtained from all participants; the human ethics committee of China Medical University approved the study.

The demographic characteristics, clinical features, and laboratory measurements of SLE patients are reported in Table 1. The disease activity of the SLE patients was evaluated using the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). The SLEDAI score (mean±SE) of the patients with SLE was 15.8±8.1. Kidney tissue biopsies were obtained for routine histological evaluation, immunofluorescence staining, and classification according to the International Society of Nephrology (ISN)/Renal Pathology Society (RPS) criteria (¹³).

Preparation of PBMC and extraction of RNA

PBMCs were separated by density gradient centrifugation (3000 g) from the peripheral blood anticoagulated with sodium citrate, collected from the interphase and washed twice with phosphate-buffered saline. Total RNA was extracted using TRIzol (Invitrogen, USA) according to the manufacturer's protocol and then quantified by photometrical measurement.

Quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR)

One microgram of total RNA was reverse transcribed to cDNA in a total volume of 20 μL using an RT reaction kit (Promega, USA). qRT-PCR was performed using the Express SYBR GreenER qPCR Supermix Universal Kit (Invitrogen) on a Rotor-gene 6000 system (Qiagen, Australia). The 25-μL PCR mixture contained 2 μL reverse-transcribed product, 12.5 μL SYBR Green Supermix, 8.5 μL RNase-free water, and 1 μL each of forward and reverse primers. The reaction was performed in a 72-well optical plate in triplicate. The first step of the PCR protocol was 95°C for 10 s, followed by 40 cycles of 95°C for 5 s, and 60°C for 30 s as the second step. A melting-curve analysis was performed to ensure specificity of the PCR products, and all the PCR products were separated by electrophoresis on agarose gels to isolate single bands of the expected size. The expression of TIMs was normalized to β-actin and determined using the comparative 2^-ΔΔCt method (¹⁴). The primers used were: TIM-1 forward, 5′-GCTTTGCAAAATGCAGTTGA-3′ and reverse, 5′-TGTTGGAATGCCAGATGAAA-3′; TIM-3 forward, 5′-GACTTCACTGCAGCCTTTCC-3′ and reverse 5′-GATCCCTGCTCCGATGTAGA-3′; TIM-4 forward, 5′-GGATTTGTGCTCTTCGCATT-3′ and reverse, 5′-CCCCCATCCTCAATCTAACA-3′; β-actin forward, 5′-TACAGCTTCACCACCACAGC-3′ and reverse 5′-AAGGAAGGCTGGAAAAGAGC-3′; IFN-γ forward, 5′-GCAGAGCCAAATTGTCTCCT-3′ and reverse 5′-ATGCTCTTCGACCTCGAAAC-3′.

Flow cytometric analysis

Briefly, freshly collected whole-blood samples were incubated for 30 min at room temperature with fluorochrome-labeled monoclonal antibodies: TIM-1-PE, TIM-3-FITC and TIM-4-PE (BD Biosciences, USA). The red blood cells were lysed for 15 min and, after washing twice with PBS, the remaining cells were assayed within 30 min by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACSCalibur, BD Biosciences). Flow cytometry data were collected and analyzed using the CellQuest software (BD Biosciences).

Statistical analysis

Data were evaluated using the SPSS 16.0 statistical software package (SPSS, USA). The relative mRNA expression observed in patients and controls are reported as group medians and ranges, and the significance of group differences was tested by the Mann-Whitney U-test. Correlations were calculated using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (r_s). All tests were two-tailed, and P values <0.05 were considered to be statistically significant.

Results

Quantification of TIM-1, TIM-3, and TIM-4 expression in PBMCs from SLE patients and healthy controls

The expression of TIM-1, TIM-3 and TIM-4 mRNA in PBMCs in the 132 SLE patients and 62 healthy controls was assessed by qRT-PCR. Expression of TIM-3 mRNA in PBMCs from SLE patients [0.61 (0.0051-2.87)] was lower than that in controls [1.13 (0.19-3.98; P<0.001) (Figure 1). Expression of TIM-1 mRNA [0.61 (0.03-191.2) in controls vs 2.28 (0.0066-255.8) in SLE patients, P=0.131)] and of TIM-4 [0.40 (0.063-69.5) in controls vs 0.92 (0.018-29.5) in SLE patients, P=0.233)] were not significantly different between patients and controls. No significant differences in TIM-1, TIM-3 and TIM-4 leukocyte surface protein expression were observed in the 20 SLE patients and 15 healthy controls who were evaluated (P>0.05).

Figure 1
TIM-3 mRNA expression levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients (n=132) and healthy controls (Con; n=62). Data are reported in box plots as medians, quartiles, and outsiders (circles). P<0.001, SLE patients compared to healthy controls (Mann-Whitney test).

TIM-3 mRNA expression in PBMCs from SLE patients with and without LN

The kidney biopsy tissues from SLE patients were evaluated for routine histology and immunofluorescence. LN was found in 52 of the 132 SLE patients (39.4%) and was classified according to the ISN/RPS criteria. There were 8 patients (15%) with class II, 5 (10%) with class III, 29 (55%) with class IV, 6 (12%) with class V, and 4 (8%) with class IV+V LN. The expression of TIM-3 mRNA in SLE patients with LN [0.49 (0.005-1.182)] was significantly lower than in those without LN [0.79 (0.042-2.871; P=0.001; Figure 2]. At the same time, the expression of TIM-3 mRNA in patients within each class of LN was compared to determine whether there was any correlation of TIM-3 with the disease progression of LN. However, we found no significant differences in the expression of TIM-3 mRNA among the different classes of LN (P>0.05).

Figure 2
TIM-3 mRNA expression levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with and without lupus nephritis (LN). Data are reported in box plots as medians and quartiles. P=0.001, SLE patients with LN (n=52) compared to SLE patients without LN (n=80) (Mann-Whitney test).

Analysis of relationships between TIM-3 mRNA expression and clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters, and Th1 cytokine in SLE patients

Association of TIM-3 with laboratory parameters was analyzed. The mRNA expression of TIM-3 was significantly correlated with serum IgA (r_s=0.425, P=0.004), and weakly correlated with serum total protein and serum albumin (r_s=0.283, P=0.049; r_s=0.297, P=0.047, respectively). A weak, negative correlation between TIM-3 mRNA expression and SLEDAI was also found (r_s=-0.272, P=0.032). No significant correlations were observed between TIM-3 mRNA expression and other characteristics or laboratory parameters in SLE patients (Table 2). As dysregulated cytokines may be linked to the pathogenesis of SLE, we assayed the expression of Th1-type cytokine IFN-γ mRNA and investigated the correlation between the expression of IFN-γ and TIM-3 in PBMC from SLE patients. The expression of IFN-γ mRNA was significantly greater in the 132 SLE patients [0.42 (0.127-22.061] than in the 62 healthy controls [0.30 (0.060-1.639); P=0.011]. No significant correlation was observed between the mRNA expression of TIM-3 and IFN-γ in the SLE patients participating in our study.

Discussion

Naive T-helper cells chiefly differentiate into Th1 or Th2 cells, and defects in the appropriate regulation of their function have been implicated in the pathophysiology of SLE. Recent studies have indicated that inappropriate regulation of Th17 cells also participates in the pathogenesis of SLE (¹²,¹⁵). The TIM family represents a group of molecules that, in concert with T-cell receptors and costimulatory signals, regulate the expansion and effector functions of Th cells (¹⁶,¹⁷). In this study, we explored the mRNA expression of TIM-1, TIM-3 and TIM-4 in PBMCs from SLE patients and healthy controls using qRT-PCR. We found that the mRNA expression of TIM-3 decreased significantly in PBMCs from SLE patients. Unfortunately, although the mRNA expression of TIM-1 and TIM-4 in PBMCs from SLE patients showed an increase, it did not reach statistical significance compared with healthy controls.

Since transcript levels do not always correlate with protein levels, we assayed the expression of TIM-1, -3 and -4 surface proteins by flow cytometry in a limited number of patients and controls. No significant differences in expression of TIM surface proteins were observed in the 20 SLE patients and 15 healthy controls who were evaluated. Estimation of serum or leukocyte-associated TIM-3 expression in larger study populations is needed for further validation of the data. Wang et al. (¹⁸) reported that TIM-1 expression increased significantly in 19 SLE patients compared with that in 19 healthy controls, but that the decrease in TIM-3 expression was not statistically significant. The contradictory results may be due to differences in sample size, variations in case source, or the effects of a poorly understood variable that itself needs further study.

In the MRL/lpr mouse model of lupus, investigators have reported that a cytokine imbalance with Th1 predominance was associated with acceleration of a lupus-like autoimmune syndrome, and elevated expression of the IFN-γ gene was correlated with severity of the disease (¹⁹,²⁰). Therefore, we assessed the mRNA expression of the Th1-type cytokine IFN-γ in PBMC from SLE patients and healthy controls. We found that IFN-γ mRNA expression in the SLE patients was significantly higher than in the healthy controls. This result confirms the previous reports of Csiszar et al. (²¹) and Harigai et al. (²²). However, our study failed to show any correlation between IFN-γ and TIM-3. We speculate that although TIM-3 and IFN-γ play important roles in Th1 cells and in the pathogenesis of SLE, they may be regulated in different ways.

Our study also showed that the expression of TIM-3 mRNA was significantly lower in SLE patients with LN than in those without LN. However, our results showed that there were no significant differences in the expression of TIM-3 mRNA among the different classes of LN. Considering the small number of participants in each LN class, future studies should collect and classify more kidney biopsy tissue samples.

LN is a common and serious complication of SLE patients, and is considered to be the crucial factor of prognosis in SLE (²³). We found in previous studies that TIM-3 negatively regulated autoimmunity or inflammatory diseases, including multiple sclerosis and neuritis, as well as nephritis (⁹,²⁴,²⁵). TIM-3 is preferentially expressed on Th1 cells vs Th2 cells and known to negatively regulate Th1 T-cell responses. TIM-3 may also be able to affect Th2-driven diseases by indirectly modulating the balance between Th1- and Th2-type responses. Skewing of the Th1/Th2 balance toward Th2 by TIM-3 blockade may contribute to the renal damage of SLE (²⁶). In addition, the TIM-3 ligand could ameliorate proteinuria and suppress anti-dsDNA antibody production by regulating T-cell function, although TIM-3 may not be directly involved in the process (²⁷). The fact that TIM-3 ligand reduces the numbers of TIM-3⁺ CD8⁺ T cells in MRL/lpr mice suggests that TIM-3⁺ CD8⁺ T cells are associated with lupus pathogenesis, since infiltration of CD8⁺ T cells in lupus kidney indicates that they have the potential to mediate kidney injury (²⁷,²⁸). It has also been reported that TIM-3 negatively regulates the activation of macrophages in the kidney during nephrotoxic serum nephritis (NTS), and that TIM-3 blockade aggravates NTS by increasing the number of kidney-infiltrating inflammatory cells. Both effects provide evidence that TIM-3 exerts a protective influence in the course of nephritis (²⁵). Therefore, it seems that stimulation of TIM-3 expression may be a promising target for therapeutic intervention in autoimmune nephritis.

To gain insight into the relation of TIM-3 with disease-associated parameters, we determined their levels in SLE patients and evaluated their correlation with TIM-3 mRNA expression. We found that the expression of TIM-3 mRNA was significantly correlated with IgA, and weakly correlated with serum total protein, serum albumin, and SLEDAI because of the marginal P values. It is really difficult to determine the precise mechanisms of the correlation between TIM-3 expression and total protein and albumin. The correlation may result from autoimmunity and disease development, and may be involved in the severity of SLE disease. The insufficient expression of TIM-3 may cause hyperactivation of autoreactive T cells, which is one of the hallmarks of SLE. TIM-3 is selectively expressed on fully differentiated Th1, and is a key regulator of self-reactive Th1 cells and maintenance of tolerance in autoimmune disease (²,⁹). Its decreased expression may induce hyperactivation of T cells and the subsequent organ damage in SLE patients, such as the kidney. Impairment of renal function may result in abnormal levels of serum total protein and albumin. In addition, our results showed that there was a significant difference in TIM-3 expression between SLE patients with LN and those without LN. The association of TIM-3 expression with LN and laboratory parameters in SLE patients also indicated that reduction of TIM-3 expression may be associated with the severity of SLE disease. Taken together, analysis of the relationship between TIM-3 mRNA expression and SLE-IgA, serum total protein, serum albumin, and SLEDAI further suggested a potential role of decreased TIM-3 mRNA expression in the pathogenesis of SLE.

In summary, we have demonstrated that TIM-3 mRNA expression is lower in SLE patients than in healthy controls. We also showed that TIM-3 mRNA expression in SLE patients with LN was significantly lower than in those without LN. Moreover, the expression of TIM-3 mRNA correlated with levels of serum IgA, total protein, and albumin, and was weakly inversely correlated with SLEDAI. The evidence indicated that TIM-3 may play a part in the pathogenesis of SLE and may be a promising target for therapeutic intervention in SLE.

Acknowledgments

We especially thank all SLE patients and colleagues who participated for making this study possible. Research supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (#30571701, #30600541).

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• First published online.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  17 Oct 2014
• Date of issue
  Jan 2015

History

• Received
  16 Nov 2013
• Accepted
  28 Aug 2014