Relation of Tim-3 Expression in Cervical Cancer to Tumor Progression

Objective To confirm the relationship between Tim-3 (T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain containing 3 protein) expression in cervical cancer and the progression of the tumor. Methods RT-PCR,Western blot and confocal microscopy were used to detect the expression of Tim-3 in cervical cancer cell lines,HeLa and SiHa,at both gene and protein levels and its intracellular distribution.Meanwhile,specimens from 43 patients with cervical cancer were detected the expression of Tim-3 by immunohistochemistry.We analysed the relation of Tim-3 expression to clinical stage,tissue typing,metastasis. Results Tim-3 was expressed highly in the HeLa and SiHa cells.Moreover,according to the statistics results,Tim-3 expressed highly in the cancer cell,relative to the increased degree of malignancy of cervical cancer. Conclusion Tim-3 is expressed highly in cervical cancer cell and vessel endothelial cell,moreover it is relative to the increased degree of malignancy of cervical cancer.