Description
KIM1 (KIDNEY INJURY MOLECULE 1), also known as HAVCR1, HAVCR or TIM1, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the KIM1 gene. The gene is mapped to 5q33.3. Biochemical, mutational, and cell adhesion analyses confirm that TIM1 is capable of homophilic Tim-Tim interactions. The protein is indeed a receptor for the virus through the infection of canine osteogenic sarcoma cells expressing HAVCR1 with HAV. Using a monoclonal antibody to mouse Tim1, TIM1 is expressed after activation of naive T cells and on T cells differentiated in Th2-polarizing conditions. Ectopic expression of TIM1 during mouse T-cell differentiation leads to production of the Th2-type cytokine Il4, but not the Th1-type cytokine Ifng. TIM1-expressing epithelial cells internalized apoptotic bodies, and the protein is directly responsible for phagocytosis in cultured primary rat tubule epithelial cells and in porcine and canine epithelial cell lines