Tim-3 deficiency aggravates cadmium nephrotoxicity via regulation of NF-κB signaling and mitochondrial damage

•An optimal cadmium-induced acute kidney injury mouse model was established.•Tim-3 deficiency enhanced cadmium nephrotoxicity.•The NF-κB inhibitor TPCA-1 alleviated cadmium nephrotoxicity in Tim-3 KO mice.•Tim-3 deficiency promoted cadmium-induced mitochondrial Bax translocation.•TPCA-1 decreased the mitochondrial Bax translocation in Tim3 KO mice.