The 7D3 monoclonal antibody specifically binds to T cell immunoglobulin mucin 3 (TIM-3) which is also known as, CD366, or T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3 (TIMD-3/TIMD3). CD366 is encoded by the HAVCR2 gene (Hepatitis A virus cellular receptor 2). CD366 is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein and belongs to the human TIM family (along with TIM-1 and TIM-4) within the immunoglobulin superfamily. CD366 is expressed on Th1, Tc1, Th17, Treg, NK T, and NK cells. CD366 is also expressed on dendritic cells, mast cells, monocytes, and macrophages. It is not expressed by Th2 and B cells. CD366 helps maintain peripheral immune tolerance and homeostasis. CD366 regulates macrophage activation and is a negative regulator of Th1 cell function. Crosslinking of cell surface CD366 by binding to Galectin-9 and/or phosphatidylserine appears to play an important role in either positively or negatively regulating leucocyte functions, such as cytokine production or the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells. CD366 may also be useful as an AML stem cell surface marker because it appears to be more highly expressed by AML leukemia stem cells than by normal bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells.
The antibody was conjugated to BD Horizon BB515 which is part of the BD Horizon Brilliant™ Blue family of dyes. With an Ex Max near 490 nm and an Em Max near 515 nm, BD Horizon BB515 can be excited by the blue laser (488 nm) laser and detected with a 530/30 nm filter. This dye has been exclusively developed by BD Biosciences and is up to seven times brighter than FITC with less spillover into the PE channel. Due to similar excitation and emission properties, BB515, FITC, and Alexa Fluor® 488 cannot be used simultaneously. It is not recommended to use BB515 in cocktails that include Streptavidin conjugates as it may cause high background.