PRF1 and autoimmune disease: TIM-3 has been associated with autoimmune diseases,tolerance induction, and to the regulation of Th1 immune responses (25,26).Previous studies have shown that perforin (7,8,10,17) and TIM-3 (12,13)mRNA expression in non-invasive cell samples (peripheral blood and urinary sedimentcells) are augmented during acute rejection episodes of kidney grafts.