TIM-3, also known as Hepatitis A virus Cell receptor 2 （HAVCR2）, is a transmembrane protein and a member of the TIM protein family, which plays a crucial role in immune response regulation. It is expressed on various immune cells, including CD8+ T cells, Th1 cells, regulatory T cells （Tregs）, dendritic cells （DCs）, natural killer （NK） cells, monocytes, and macrophages. TIM-3 functions as an inhibitory receptor and is associated with T cell exhaustion in chronic infections and cancer. It has been identified as a promising target for cancer immunotherapy, as its blockade can enhance antitumor immunity. The receptor interacts with several ligands, including Galectin-9, CEACAM-1, phosphatidylserine （PtdSer）, and High Mobility Group Box 1 （HMGB1）. TIM-3 also plays a role in the clearance of apoptotic bodies by interacting with PtdSer on the surface of apoptotic cells. Recent studies have shown that targeting TIM-3 on DCs might be more critical for enhancing antitumor immunity than targeting it on T cells. Furthermore, combined blockade of TIM-3 and PD-1 has shown synergistic effects in reducing tumor growth in various mouse tumor models, suggesting that the combination therapy might be a promising approach for cancer treatment.