Figure 5.

TIM-3 blockade restores Th1 cell differentiation and pathogen control in iron supplemented S. Typhimurium-infected mice. Nramp^G169-expressing C57Bl/6 male mice were fed a high iron (5 g iron/kg diet) diet two weeks before and during infection with 500 CFU of S. Typhimurium. From the day of infection on, mice were intraperitoneally injected with 100 µg in vivo MAb anti-mouse TIM-3 antibody or in vivo MAb rat IgG2a isotype control on every second day. The animals were analyzed on day 14 post infection. (A) Total cell number per spleen and percentages of Th1 (IFNγ ⁺) cells within the CD4⁺ helper T cells were assessed by flow cytometry. (B) Bacterial burden was determined by plating of spleen and liver homogenates and CFU counting. CFU numbers were normalized to organ mass. Means ± SEM are shown in the plots. Statistical significance was assessed by two-tailed T test. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01. (A) isotype control n = 12; Tim-3 blocking Ab n = 7. (B) spleen isotype control n = 6, Tim-3 blocking Ab n = 7; liver isotype control n = 7, Tim-3 blocking Ab n = 8.