CD44 and systemic lupus erythematosus: Moreover, most Tim-3+ CD8 T cells in MRL/lpr lupus-prone mice co-expressed CD44, an activated cell marker, and CD44+ Tim-3+ CD8 T cells decreased significantly in Gal-9-treated mice, suggesting that Gal-9 preferentially decreases Tim-3+ CD8 T cells (Figure 4).