Abstract: Abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic and refractory disease caused by autoimmune dysfunction. The continuous activation and the status of long-term high response of T cells are important links of its immune response. T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain-containing molecule-3 (Tim-3) is a surface molecule expressed on various cell types of immune system, and its signal transduction can enhance or inhibit the immune response of macrophages. A large number of studies have indicated that Tim-3 plays an important role in the immune system, such as regulating the polarization of macrophage, promoting the transduction of various intracellular signal and immune responses and playing a key role in the pathogenesis of RA. Therefore, the paper reviews the relevant research progress on Tim-3 regulating the polarization of macrophage in RA in recent years and provides new ideas for deepening the treatment of RA.

Key words: arthritis, rheumatoid, macrophages, Tim-3, macrophage polarization