TIM‐3: An emerging target in the liver diseases.

T cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain‐containing molecule 3 (TIM‐3) is found expression in the surface of terminally differentiated T cells and belongs to the TIM family of type Ⅰ transmembrane proteins. It binds to the ligand Galectin‐9 and mediates T cell apoptosis. As the research progresses, TIM‐3 is also expressed in Th17, NK, monocyte, which binds to ligand and induce immune peripheral tolerance in both mice and man. Numerous researches have demonstrated that TIM‐3 influences liver diseases, including liver‐associated chronic viral infection, liver fibrosis, liver cancer et al and suggest new approaches to intervention. Currently, targeted therapy of TIM‐3 is a new treatment in the field of immunization. Although many studies have proven that TIM‐3 has an inhibitory effect in vivo, the specific mechanism is not clear. Herein, we summarize the important role of TIM‐3 in the regulation of liver disease and prospects for future clinical research. TIM‐3 will provide new targets for improving clinical liver disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]