The correlation of Tim-3 and IFN-γ expressions in mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii during gestation.

The immunoinhibitory receptor T cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain-1 (Tim-1) and Tim-3 participate in the regulation of Th immune response as well as innate immunity. However, there is no report about the expression of Tim genes in Toxoplasma gondii-infected experimental models during pregnancy. In this study, Kunming outbred pregnant mice were infected with RH strain of T. gondii through vagina at days 10 to 16 of gestation, and the mRNA expressions of Tim-1, Tim-3, interleukin (IL)-4, and interferon (IFN)-γ in the placentas, uteri, and draining lumber aortic lymph nodes (LALNs) at day 18 of gestation were analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Compared with uninfected pregnant controls, significantly increased levels of IFN-γ and Tim-3 were detected in the placentas (P < 0.001), uteri (P = 0.003 and P = 0.017, respectively), and LALNs (P = 0.003 and P = 0.025, respectively) of T. gondii-infected mice; there were positive and significant correlations between Tim-3 and IFN-γ mRNA expression levels in the placentas (R(2) = 0.6331, P = 0.0011), uteri (R(2) = 0.5658, P = 0.003), and LALNs (R(2) = 0.5583, P = 0.0033) of infected mice. Tim-1 (P = 0.002) and IL-4 (P = 0.003) expressions were significantly increased in the placentas, but Tim-1 were significantly decreased in the uteri (P = 0.013) and LALNs (P < 0.001) of infected pregnant mice in comparison of uninfected pregnant controls. Our data suggested that Tim-3 may play a regulatory role in T. gondii-infected pregnant mouse model.