As rapid expression of perforin is considered as a novel correlate of control of HIV replication [23], this novel finding that blocking Tim-3 pathway leads to an increase in perforin release and direct cytotoxicity in particular, further indicates that the Tim-3 pathway might be a potential therapeutic target for the rescue of dysfunctional CD8+ T cells resulting in the better suppression of HIV infection. Here, HAVCR2 is linked to HIV infectious disease.