The T-cell immunoglobulin mucin 3 is a type I transmembrane protein that has been implicated in both activation and inhibition of immune responses.36,37 Inhibition of TIM-3 pathway in vivo was found to be associated with increased clinical and pathological severity of many Th1-dependent autoimmune diseases.20 It was found to be an important negative regulator of Th1-cell activation.28,29. This evidence concerns the gene HAVCR2 and autoimmune disease.