Human TIM-1 associates with the TCR complex and up-regulates T cell activation signals

The T cell, Ig domain, and mucin domain-1 (TIM-1) gene is associated with Th2 T cell responses and human atopic diseases. The mechanism by which TIM-1 influences T cell responses remains unknown. We demonstrate that TIM-1 is recruited to the TCR-signaling complex via association with CD3. TIM-1 up-regulates TCR-associated signaling events, including phosphorylation of Zap70 and IL-2-inducible T cell kinase. This activity requires TIM-1 tyrosine phosphorylation. TIM-1 expression induces formation of a novel complex that includes PI3K and ITK. Finally, the consequences of TIM-1 activation include increased expression of effector cytokines. These results demonstrate that TIM-1 is a critical component of the human T cell response and provide a mechanistic hypothesis for the role of TIM-1 in disease.