Increased Expression of T Cell Immunoglobulin and Mucin Domain 3 on CD14 Monocytes Is Associated with Systemic Inflammatory Reaction and Brain Injury in Patients with Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Objective: To study the expression of T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (Tim-3) on peripheral blood immunocytes, and the relationship between Tim-3 and the systemic inflammatory response or brain injury in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

Methods: According to the volume of hematoma at 12 hours after onset of ICH, 60 newly diagnosed patients with ICH were divided into the small (volume of hematoma <30 mL, 30 cases) and large (volume of hematoma ≥30 mL, 30 cases) ICH groups. The expression of Tim-3 on peripheral blood immunocytes was analyzed by flow cytometry. Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was used to detect Tim-3 mRNA on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Meanwhile, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and S-100B protein were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) score at Day 30 was used to estimate prognosis of patients.

Results: The leukocyte count, neutrophil count, monocyte count, TNF-α, IL-1β, and S-100B protein increased remarkably after ICH. However, all of them in the large ICH group increased more obviously, and there were significant differences when compared with those in the small ICH group (P < .01). The expression of Tim-3 mRNA on PBMCs in the large ICH group increased remarkably, peaked at Day 3, and was positively associated with the concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β, and S-100B protein (P < .01). Tim-3 was predominantly expressed itself on CD14 monocytes. There was a negative correlation between GOS score and Tim-3 mRNA, TNF-α, IL-1β, or S-100B protein.

Conclusions: The expression of Tim-3 on CD14 + monocytes involves in systemic inflammatory reaction after ICH and may be a novel treatment target.