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. 2021 Dec 18;13(24):6365. doi: 10.3390/cancers13246365

Figure 7.

Figure 7

The interplay between PD-1 and TIM-3 and the dual function of Gal-9. Gal-9 is frequently expressed on cancer cells and exists as a soluble protein. Gal-9 has been shown to bind both TIM-3 and PD-1, and to induce apoptosis of CD4+ or CD8+ T cells. However, the co-expression of PD-1 protects TIM-3+ T cells from Gal-9-induced cell death. Gal-9-binding takes place via the N116-linked glycan of PD-1. Gal-9 triggers the formation of TIM-3/PD-1 aggregates. The interaction can be modulated with anti-Gal-9 therapies (adapted from [117]).