Objective To investigate the effect of T cell Ig and mucin 1 (TIM-1) on MUC5AC and Th2 cytokine expression in the airway of asthmatic mice, so as to understand the mechanism of airway mucus hypersecretion.Methods Thirty healthy female C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control，asthmatic and TIM-1 mAb treated groups, with 10 mice in each group. The proportion of TIM-1 positive cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), MUC5AC mRNA expression in the airway, levels of IL-13, IL-4 and IL-5 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and the number and volume of airway mucous cells were examined in the three groups. Results The proportions of PBMCs TIM-1 positive cells in asthmatic(11.20%) and TIM-1 mAb treated (5.11%) mice were significantly higher than that in the control group (0.64%, P<0.05), and that in TIM-1 mAb treated mice was significantly lower than that in the asthmatic mice (P<0.05). (2) MUC5AC mRNA expression in the airway mucous cells in the asthmatic (17.3±1.4) and TIM-1 mAb treated (5.6±0.3) mice were significantly higher than that in control mice (P<0.05). The BALF levels of IL-13 (ng/ml), IL-4 (pg/ml), and IL-5 (pg/ml) were 16.80±0.63, 614.72±117.39, and 1 681.13±613.55 in the asthmatic, and were 5.70±0.64, 325.78±86.54, and 513.42±86.87 in TIM-1 mAb treated mice, respectively, which were all significantly higher than those in the control mice ([1.09±0.25] ng/ml for IL-13, [17.56±3.01] pg/ml for IL-4, and [30.78±9.67] pg/ml for IL-5, P<0.05). And all the above parameters in the TIM-1 mAb treated mice were significantly lower than those in the asthmatic mice (P<0.05). (3) MUC5AC and IL-13 expression in the airway was positively correlated with TIM-1 positive cells in asthmatic mice (r1=0.946, P1=0.004; r2=0.984, P2=0.000). Conclusion TIM-1 positive cells are increased in PBMCs in asthmatic mice, which can result in airway mucous cell metaplasia and mucus hypersecretion. Inhibition of TIM-1 expression can reduce mucus hypersecretion. Regulation of TIM-1 might be a novel approach for asthma treatment.