Something against TIM-1 in asthma

Researchers at Biogen Idec Inc. and colleagues have used a humanized mouse model to show that inhibiting T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 1 could help treat allergic asthma.¹ The findings are the first to show a concrete pathological role for the T cell-regulating protein in asthma and suggest that molecules targeting the protein may have broader effects than the IL-13 inhibitors in clinical development for the disease.

T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 1 (HAVCR1; TIM-1) is one of four TIM proteins that regulate immune system responses. The protein is preferentially expressed on T helper type 2 (Th2) cells and helps activate T cells in response to antigens. A 2001 study by researchers at Stanford University and Harvard Medical Schoolinitially identified the link between TIM-1 polymorphisms and asthma.²...