Taken together, our findings indicate that Tim-3 in primary leukocytes, both healthy and malignant AML cells, displays moderate properties of an inflammatory receptor with additional growth factor (mTOR activation) and pro-angiogenic (VEGF release) activities (a summary of the biochemical activities of Tim-3 in AML cells is provided in Figure 6). This evidence concerns the gene HAVCR2 and acute myeloid leukemia.