In addition, the expression of the Gal-9 ligand Tim-3 was significantly increased in GD and in HT compared to goiter (Fig 5C, p = 0.013 and p<0.0001, respectively), and the expression of this gene was significantly higher in HT than in GD (Fig 5C, p = 0.024). This evidence concerns the gene LGALS9 and goiter.