Tim-3 is a potential regulator that inhibits monocyte inflammation in response to intermittent hypoxia in children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

The mechanism of the characteristic intermittent hypoxia (IH) of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) on monocyte remain unclear. Our study found that OSAS children had a significantly upregulated expression in circulating proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-12, and endothelial injury markers VEGF and ICAM1. Association analysis revealed that the plasma TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12 concentration were negatively associated with the minimal SpO2, a negative index for disease severity. OSAS monocytes presented an inflammatory phenotype with higher mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines. Importantly, we noted a significant decrease in T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain (Tim)-3 expression in OSAS monocytes with the increase of the plasma proinflammatory cytokines. In vitro assay demonstrated that IH induced THP-1 cell overactivation via NF-κB dependent pathway was inhibited by the Tim-3 signal. Our results indicated that activation of monocyte inflammatory responses is closely related to OSAS-induced IH, and negatively mediated by a Tim-3 signaling pathway.