Figure 2.

Schematic representation of T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain (TIM)-containing proteins and their ligands. (A) TIM-1 can bind to phosphatidylserine on apoptotic bodies through the FG-CC′ binding region in the N-terminal immunoglobulin variable (IgV) domain conferring phagocytic characteristics to epithelial cells. TIM-1 can also bind to soluble TIM-4 or ligate to itself, leading to T cell activation and T-helper (Th)-2 expansion. (B) TIM-3 binds to galectin-9 (Gal-9) through N-linked carbohydrates in the IgV domain, driving a Th-1-mediated inflammatory response.

Note: The ligand binding to the FG-CC′ cleft on the opposite side of the IgV domain has not yet been identified.