HAVCR2 and rheumatoid arthritis: More recently, we and other group demonstrated the elevated serum levels of Galectin-9 in RA patients.[30,31] Furthermore, beneficial effect of galectin-9 on RA through the induction of apoptosis of synovial fibroblasts had been suggested.[32] It can be concluded that the TIM-3/galectin-9 pathway is activated in RA as an anti-immune mediators.