TGFB1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: As for the regulatory mechanism for TIM-3, it has been reported that TIM-3 on M2-like macrophages was, at least in part, induced by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in hepatocellular carcinoma, and a SMAD-binding site in the 5′ region of TIM-3 was identified [15].