Inhibits TIM-3 on T cells with Gal-9 on cancer cells and other cells in TME; Inhibits TIM3 interaction on T cells with HMGB1 on other immune cells; Prevents T cell exhaustion; Promotes recognition of nucleic acids in endosomes through preventing TIM-3 binding with HMGB-1; TIM-3 prevents phagocytosis of apoptotic cells by macrophages and CD8+ DC. This evidence concerns the gene CD8A and cancer.