Research Progress of T-Cell Immunoglobulin and Mucin Domain-Containing Protein-3 (Tim-3) in Respiratory Diseases

T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein-3 (Tim-3), an emerging immune checkpoint molecule, was found to critically regulate the pathogenesis of respiratory disorders, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchial asthma, and bronchogenic carcinoma, through its dynamic expression patterns and genetic polymorphisms. This review synthesized current knowledge on the structural and functional characteristics of Tim-3, delineated its roles in COPD, asthma, and lung cancer, and evaluated its therapeutic potential, thereby offering novel perspectives for targeting Tim-3 in respiratory disease management.