Both the functional TIM-3 rs1036199 SNP, which encodes a missense mutation, and the TIM-3 rs10515746 SNP, an upstream variant in the promoter region, have previously been associated with increased susceptibility to autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis [21,32,33,34,35]. Here, HAVCR2 is linked to rheumatoid arthritis.