Role of TIM-1 in the development and treatment of tumours

Abstract

T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin structural domain 1 (TIM-1, also known as hepatitis A virus cell receptor 1) is a co-stimulatory molecule that is expressed predominantly on the surface of T cells. TIM-1 promotes the activation and proliferation of T cells, cytokine secretion, and can also be overexpressed in various types of cancer. Upregulation of TIM-1 expression may be associated with the development and progression of cancer. After reviewing the literature, we propose that TIM-1 affects tumour development mainly through two pathways. In the Direct pathway: overexpression in tumours activates tumour-related signaling pathways, mediates the proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and metastasis, and directly affects tumour development directly. In the indirect pathway: In addition to changing the tumour microenvironment and influencing the growth of tumours, TIM-1 binds to ligands to encourage the activation, proliferation, and generation of cytokines by immune cells. This review examines how TIM-1 stimulates the development of tumours in direct and indirect ways, and how TIM-1 is exploited as a target for cancer therapy.

Keywords: TIM-1; target; the tumour microenvironment; therapy; tumour.

FIGURE 1

How TIM-1 affects the development and progression of tumours through two pathways. (1) Direct pathway. TIM-1 overexpression in tumours promotes the migration and invasion of tumour cells through MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. (2) Indirect pathway. In addition to mediating the onset and progression of tumours, TIM-1 binds to ligands, alters the tumour microenvironment, and stimulates the activation and proliferation of immune cells as well as cytokine production. These two pathways are entry points to design drugs that interfere with TIM-1 and related signaling pathways. This strategy can be used for tumour therapy.