1.Computational pathology in precision oncology: Evolution from task-specific models to foundation models.
Yuhao WANG ; Yunjie GU ; Xueyuan ZHANG ; Baizhi WANG ; Rundong WANG ; Xiaolong LI ; Yudong LIU ; Fengmei QU ; Fei REN ; Rui YAN ; S Kevin ZHOU
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(22):2868-2878
With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, computational pathology has been seamlessly integrated into the entire clinical workflow, which encompasses diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and biomarker discovery. This integration has significantly enhanced clinical accuracy and efficiency while reducing the workload for clinicians. Traditionally, research in this field has depended on the collection and labeling of large datasets for specific tasks, followed by the development of task-specific computational pathology models. However, this approach is labor intensive and does not scale efficiently for open-set identification or rare diseases. Given the diversity of clinical tasks, training individual models from scratch to address the whole spectrum of clinical tasks in the pathology workflow is impractical, which highlights the urgent need to transition from task-specific models to foundation models (FMs). In recent years, pathological FMs have proliferated. These FMs can be classified into three categories, namely, pathology image FMs, pathology image-text FMs, and pathology image-gene FMs, each of which results in distinct functionalities and application scenarios. This review provides an overview of the latest research advancements in pathological FMs, with a particular emphasis on their applications in oncology. The key challenges and opportunities presented by pathological FMs in precision oncology are also explored.
Humans
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Precision Medicine/methods*
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Medical Oncology/methods*
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Artificial Intelligence
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Neoplasms/pathology*
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Computational Biology/methods*
2.Expert consensus on evaluation index system construction for new traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) from TCM clinical practice in medical institutions.
Li LIU ; Lei ZHANG ; Wei-An YUAN ; Zhong-Qi YANG ; Jun-Hua ZHANG ; Bao-He WANG ; Si-Yuan HU ; Zu-Guang YE ; Ling HAN ; Yue-Hua ZHOU ; Zi-Feng YANG ; Rui GAO ; Ming YANG ; Ting WANG ; Jie-Lai XIA ; Shi-Shan YU ; Xiao-Hui FAN ; Hua HUA ; Jia HE ; Yin LU ; Zhong WANG ; Jin-Hui DOU ; Geng LI ; Yu DONG ; Hao YU ; Li-Ping QU ; Jian-Yuan TANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(12):3474-3482
Medical institutions, with their clinical practice foundation and abundant human use experience data, have become important carriers for the inheritance and innovation of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and the "cradles" of the preparation of new TCM. To effectively promote the transformation of new TCM originating from the TCM clinical practice in medical institutions and establish an effective evaluation index system for the transformation of new TCM conforming to the characteristics of TCM, consensus experts adopted the literature research, questionnaire survey, Delphi method, etc. By focusing on the policy and technical evaluation of new TCM originating from the TCM clinical practice in medical institutions, a comprehensive evaluation from the dimensions of drug safety, efficacy, feasibility, and characteristic advantages was conducted, thus forming a comprehensive evaluation system with four primary indicators and 37 secondary indicators. The expert consensus reached aims to encourage medical institutions at all levels to continuously improve the high-quality research and development and transformation of new TCM originating from the TCM clinical practice in medical institutions and targeted at clinical needs, so as to provide a decision-making basis for the preparation, selection, cultivation, and transformation of new TCM for medical institutions, improve the development efficiency of new TCM, and precisely respond to the public medication needs.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional/standards*
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Humans
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Consensus
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
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Surveys and Questionnaires
3.Identification and expression analysis of β-amylase gene family members in alfalfa under saline-alkali stress.
Hongyu QU ; Lishuang ZHANG ; Yahui TANG ; Lei LIU ; Rui GUO ; Weileng GUO ; Changhong GUO
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(2):719-735
Beta-amylases (BAMs), key enzymes in starch hydrolysis, play an important role in plant growth, development, and resistance to abiotic stress. To mine the saline-alkali tolerance-related BAM genes in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), we identified MsBAM genes in the whole genome. The physicochemical properties, phylogeny, gene structures, conserved motifs, secondary structures, promoter cis-acting elements, chromosome localization, and gene replication relationships of BAM gene family members were analyzed. RNA-seq and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) were employed to analyze the expression patterns of BAM family members under saline-alkali stress. The results showed that 54 BAM genes were identified in the genome, which were classified into 8 subgroups according to the phylogenetic tree. The members of the same subgroup had similar gene structures except that those of subgroups 1 and 7 had large differences. Conserved motif analysis showed that all MsBAM proteins had a typical glycohydrolysis domain. The chromosome localization analysis showed that MsBAM gene family members were unevenly distributed on 27 chromosomes. The duplication of gene segments led to the increase in BAM gene number in alfalfa. The promoters of BAM genes contained a large number of elements in response to plant hormones and stress. Transcriptome data and qRT-PCR results showed that the expression levels of most MsBAM genes were up-regulated in response to saline-alkali stress. Under the saline-alkali stress, the expression levels of 28 genes, including MsBAM6, were up-regulated on days 1 and 7, and those of 5 genes, including MsBAM9, were up-regulated by over 2 folds. In addition, under salt-alkali stress, BAM activity and soluble sugar content were significantly increased. These results indicate that BAM genes play a key role in alfalfa in response to saline-alkali stress, laying a foundation for further research in this field.
Medicago sativa/physiology*
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beta-Amylase/metabolism*
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Phylogeny
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Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
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Stress, Physiological/genetics*
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Multigene Family
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Alkalies
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Plant Proteins/genetics*
4.Research progresses on the mechanism of macrophages in tendon bone healing.
Liang WANG ; Yinshuan DENG ; Tao QU ; Chaoming DA ; Yunfei HE ; Rui LIU ; Weimin NIU ; Weishun YAN ; Zhen CHEN ; Shuo LI ; Zhiyun YANG ; Binbin GUO ; Xueqian LAI
Chinese Journal of Cellular and Molecular Immunology 2025;41(2):183-187
The connection between tendons and bones is called the tendon bone connection. With the continuous improvement of national sports awareness, excessive exercises and the related intensity are prone to damage the tendon bone connection. Tendon bone healing is a complex repair and healing process involving multiple factors, and good tendon bone healing is a prerequisite for its physiological function. The complexity of tendon bone structure also poses great challenges to the repair of tendon bone injuries. In recent years, researches have found that stem cells, growth factors, macrophages, and other factors are closely related to the healing process of tendon bone injuries, among which macrophages play an important role in the healing process. The authors reviewed relevant research literature in recent years and summarized the role of macrophages in tendon bone healing, in order to provide new ideas and directions for treatment strategies to promote tendon bone healing.
Humans
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Macrophages/metabolism*
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Wound Healing
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Animals
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Tendons/physiology*
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Bone and Bones/injuries*
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Tendon Injuries
5.Genetic and clinical phenotypic analysis of Usher syndrome-associated gene variants.
Heng ZHAO ; Xiuli MA ; Yanli QU ; Guo LI ; Ken LIN ; Rui HUANG ; Lijuan ZHOU ; Jing MA
Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2025;39(8):736-742
Objective:To investigate the molecular characteristics and clinical heterogeneity of Usher syndrome(USH) -related gene variants in patients with hereditary hearing loss in southwest China, providing a basis for early diagnosis and clinical management. Methods:Thirteen patients from twelve families with hearing loss who attended the Affiliated Children's Hospital of Kunming Medical University between January 2017 and March 2021 were enrolled. All patients were identified as carrying USH-related gene variants through next-generation sequencing. Sanger sequencing was performed for all patients and their parents to validate the pathogenic variants. Comprehensive clinical evaluations, including medical history collection, otologic and ophthalmologic examinations, and vestibular function assessments, were conducted. Results:Among the 13 patients, 4 were diagnosed with USH type 1 and 2 with USH type 2. A total of 19 pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants were detected in USH-related genes, including MYO7A,CDH23,USH1C, and USH2A. The causative gene was MYO7A in 3 probands, CDH23 in 5, USH1C in 3, and USH2Ain 2. All patients exhibited an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. Vestibular dysfunction was observed in 4 patients, and retinitis pigmentosa(RP) in 3 patients. Based on the genotype-phenotype correlation, 6 patients were initially diagnosed with USH, while 7 were classified as having non-syndromic hearing loss(NSHL). Conclusion:This study revealed the clinical heterogeneity of USH-related gene variants in patients with hereditary deafness in southwest China. Although the clinical manifestations of USH are complex and there are overlapping characteristics between different subtypes, genetic testing provides an important basis for early diagnosis and precise clinical management. Especially for those with typical hearing loss, early genetic diagnosis can provide a window of time for early detection and intervention of retinitis pigmentosa.
Humans
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Usher Syndromes/genetics*
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Myosin VIIa
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Phenotype
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Male
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Female
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Myosins/genetics*
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Mutation
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Cadherins/genetics*
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Child
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Extracellular Matrix Proteins/genetics*
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Adolescent
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Pedigree
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High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
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Cadherin Related Proteins
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Cytoskeletal Proteins
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Cell Cycle Proteins
6.PCBP1-mediated regulation of iron homeostasis suppresses ferroptosis against cadmium-induced neurotoxicity in mouse neuroblastoma cells
Sheng JIE ; Rui TIAN ; Yuchen QU ; Li TIAN ; Jia XIE ; Mengyan CHEN ; Mindi HE ; Zhengping YU ; Huifeng PI ; Ping DENG
Journal of Army Medical University 2025;47(19):2315-2326
Objective To investigate the role of poly(rC)-binding protein 1(PCBP1)in cadmium(Cd)-induced ferroptosis in mouse neuroblastoma Neuro-2a(N2A)cells.Methods N2A cells were exposed to a concentration gradient of CdCl?(0,1,2,4 μmol/L)for 72 h.Cell viability was assessed by trypan blue staining.Western blotting was employed to detect the expression of ferroptosis-related proteins(GPX4,HMOX1,ACSL4)and PCBP1.Intracellular Fe2? level and lipid peroxidation were detected using FerroOrange and BODIPY581/591 C11 probes,respectively.Ferrostatin-1(Fer-1),a ferroptosis inhibitor,was applied to confirm the critical role of ferroptosis in Cd-induced cytotoxicity.Molecular docking was performed to elucidate the interaction between PCBP1 and ferritin,as well as the binding sites of Cd2?.PCBP1 overexpression plasmid was further constructed for functional validation.Results Cd exposure suppressed cell viability in N2A cells in a dose-dependent manner(P<0.01),significantly down-regulated GPX4 expression(P<0.05),up-regulated HMOX1 expression(P<0.01),and induced Fe2? overload and lipid peroxidation(P<0.01).Molecular docking revealed that Cd2? directly bound to the KH2 domain of PCBP1 and then co-localized on the outer surface of ferritin heavy chain.Overexpression of PCBP1 markedly reversed Cd-induced Fe2? accumulation,GPX4 down-regulation,lipid peroxidation,and cell death.Conclusion Cd exposure disrupts PCBP1-mediated iron homeostasis via transcriptional suppression and competitive displacement of metal ions,and then synergistically drives Fe2? overload-triggered ferroptosis cascades,ultimately leading to neurotoxicity.Targeting PCBP1-mediated iron homeostasis can effectively mitigate Cd-induced neurotoxicity,and may serve as a novel therapeutic strategy.
7.The mechanism and application prospects of mitochondrial quality control in osteoarthritis
Liang WANG ; Yinshuan DENG ; Tao QU ; Chaoming DA ; Yunfei HE ; Rui LIU ; Weimin NIU ; Weishun YAN ; Zhen CHEN ; Shuo LI ; Zhiyun YANG ; Binbin GUO ; Xueqian LAI
Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2025;30(2):282-288
Osteoarthritis(OA)is a common joint disease in clinical practice,and cartilage damage is a typical pathological change.The pathogenesis of OA is complex,and various adverse factors can lead to the occurrence of OA.Mitochondria are im-portant organelles within cells and play important roles in cellular physiological and pathological activ-ities.Mitochondrial quality control is an important regulatory mechanism in the body to maintain nor-mal mitochondrial structure and function,mainly including mitochondrial biogenesis,mitochondrial dynamics,mitochondrial autophagy,mitochondrial oxidative stress,and other forms.The imbalance of mitochondrial quality control in chondrocytes is closely related to the occurrence and development of osteoarthritis,and regulating the balance of mi-tochondrial quality control is a potential therapeu-tic point for osteoarthritis.The author reviewed rel-evant research literature in recent years to provide a review of the relationship between mitochondrial quality control and the occurrence and develop-ment of osteoarthritis,in order to provide new ideas and directions for the research and diagnosis and treatment strategies of osteoarthritis.
8.Establishment of a chronic lymphocytic leukemia mouse model via adoptive transfer of Eμ-TCL1 transgenic splenocytes
Manxu ZHANG ; Sha GUO ; Abudukelimu NADIYA· ; Alimu XIERENGULI· ; Rui ZHANG ; Xuejiao ZENG ; Linyi ZHANG ; Ranran ZHANG ; Jianhua QU
Chinese Journal of Hematology 2025;46(5):445-452
Objective:To generate a chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) mouse model with intact immune competence and short latency by adoptively transferring (AT) splenocytes from immunoglobulin heavy-chain enhancer-driven T-cell leukemia/lymphoma 1 (Eμ-TCL1) transgenic donors into wild-type (WT) recipients.Methods:Specific pathogen-free C57BL/6J WT mice and H11-Eμ-VH-TCL1-β-globin-PolyA knock-in mice were utilized. The H11-Eμ-VH-TCL1-β-globin-PolyA knock-in mice were generated using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, and their genotypes were confirmed by PCR. Experimental animals were randomly divided into an adoptive transfer (AT) group and a WT control group ( n=10 per group). Mice in the AT group received an intraperitoneal injection of splenocytes from H11-Eμ-VH-TCL1-β-globin-PolyA knock-in mice. The weight and general condition of the mice were monitored. Mice were euthanized by cervical dislocation at 9 weeks post-transplantation. The CLL model was validated using key indicators, including pathological manifestations, changes in peripheral blood leukocyte counts, and immunophenotype. Results:AT group mice exhibited significantly increased spleen weight [ (0.92±0.16) g vs (0.06±0.01) g in WT group, P<0.05] and liver weight [ (2.11±0.56) g vs (1.42±0.13) g in WT group, P=0.006], indicative of marked splenomegaly and hepatomegaly. The peripheral blood leukocyte count was significantly higher in the AT group [ (124.33±8.74) ×10 9/L] compared to the WT group [ (5.55±1.67) ×10 9/L] ( P=0.002). Similarly, the percentage of peripheral blood B lymphocytes was markedly increased in the AT group versus the WT group [ (69.13±6.88) % vs (39.78±5.94) %, P<0.05]. Histopathological examination revealed CLL manifestations in the spleen, lymph nodes, and bone marrow of AT group mice, with significant lymphocytic infiltration observed in the liver, lung, and kidney tissues. Flow cytometry analysis showed that the percentages of CD19 +CD5 + B lymphocytes among total lymphocytes in peripheral blood, bone marrow, and spleen of the AT group were (61.37±9.92) %, (28.61± 7.08) %, and (86.03±5.78) %, respectively. These were significantly higher (all P<0.05) than in the WT group [ (4.51±1.32) %, (5.58±1.46) %, and (14.33±3.20) %]. Furthermore, these CLL-like cells in the AT group were positive for CD43 and CD200, but showed lower expression of CD20, CD22, and CD79b compared to WT B cells. Conclusion:Adoptive transfer of splenocytes from Eμ-TCL1 transgenic mice successfully established a CLL mouse model with a relatively short latency period. This model represents a valuable preclinical tool for investigating CLL and related pathologies.
9.Inhibitory effect of rapamycin on proliferation of human chronic lymphoblastic leukemia in vitro by human blood γδT cells
Xuejiao ZENG ; Xierenguli ALIMU ; Rui ZHANG ; Maliya MUHASHI ; Guli BADANMU ; Jianhua QU
Chinese Journal of Immunology 2025;41(1):46-49,56
Objective:To investigate effect of rapamycin on proliferation of human chronic lymphoblastic leukemia tumor cell MEC-1 in vitro.Methods:Human γδT cells were cultured and expanded in vitro.Human γδT cells percentage was detected by flow cytometry on the 10th day.γδT cells were treated with different concentrations of rapamycin(0,50,100 and 200 nmol/L).After 48 h of intervention,IL-17,IL-12,IFN-γ and TNF-α contents secreted by γδT cells were determined by ELISA,and AKT/mTOR protein expression was detected by Western blot.Supernatant of γδT was collected and co-cultured with MEC-1 indirectly.Co-cultured experi-mental was divided into DMSO group,rapamycin group,γδT group,rapamycin treated γδT group and control group.Survival rate of MEC-1 cells in each group was determined by CCK-8 after 48 h of culture.Results:IL-12,IFN-γ and TNF-α levels secreted by γδT cells were the highest when rapamycin was 100 nmol/L,which was significantly higher than other groups(P<0.05).When rapamycin was 50 nmol/L,IL-17 secretion level of γδT cells was the highest,and IL-17 level secreted by γδT cells gradually decreased with increase of rapamycin concentration.Survival rates of MEC-1 cells in supernatant of DMSO group,rapamycin group,rapamycin treated γδT cell group and γδT cell group were(93.48±2.52)%,(71.44±4.31)%,(83.93±1.54)%and(57.97±2.47)%,whose differences were statistically significant compared with control group(P<0.05).Compared with control group,mTOR protein level of γδT cells was decreased in all rapamycin treated groups.Protein expressions of upstream AKT,pAKT and downstream specific transcription factor 4EBP-1 were decreased with increase of rapamycin concentration(P<0.05).Conclusion:There is a dose-effect relationship between rapamycin concentration and IL-17,IL-12,IFN-γ,TNF-α secretions by γδT cells.Rapamycin and γδT cells can inhibit pro-liferation of MEC-1 cells,and 100 nmol/L rapamycin can enhance inhibitory effect of γδT cells on proliferation of MEC-1 cells.Rapa-mycin can weaken AKT pathway on γδT cells,and rapamycin combined with γδT cells plays a positive role in anti-tumor application of leukemia.
10.Expression of Type 2 Innate Lymphoid Cell and IL-9 and Other Related Cytokines in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Rui-Xue YANG ; Rui ZHANG ; Xue-Jiao ZENG ; Alimu XIERENGULI ; Jian-Hua QU
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(6):1583-1591
Objective:To explore the difference of type 2 innate lymphoid cell(ILC2),IL-9 and related cytokines between chronic lymphocytic leukemia(CLL)patients and normal individuals,as well as the correlation between ILC2 and IL-9 and other cytokines in CLL patients.Methods:Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of ILC2 and regulatory T cells(Tregs)in peripheral blood of 26 CLL patients at initial diagnosis and 10 healthy controls.RT-qPCR was used to detected IFN-γ,TGF-β,IL-9 and IL-10 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cell(PBMC).ELISA was used to detect serum IFN-γ,TNF-α,TGF-β,IL-9,IL-10 and IL-21.ILC2 and IL-9 were observed in the cervical lymph node of 12 CLL patients at initial diagnosis and 12 patients with reactive lymphoid hyperplasias by multiplex indirect immunofluorescence staining.Spearman test was used to analyze the correlation between peripheral blood ILC2 and IL-9,IL-9 and IL-21,IFN-γ mRNA and IL-10 mRNA in CLL patients.Pearson test was used to analyze the correlation between TNF-α and TGF-β in CLL patients.Results:Compared with control group,the proportions of ILC2 and Tregs were significantly increased in CLL group(both P<0.05).The mRNA expressions of IFN-γ,IL-9,IL-10 and TGF-β in PBMCs of CLL patients were significantly increased(all P<0.05).In CLL patients,the expressions of IFN-γ,TNF-α,TGF-β,IL-9 and IL-10 in serum were significantly increased(all P<0.01),while IL-21 slightly increased without statistical difference(P>0.05).In CLL patients,the peripheral blood ILC2 was positively related to IL-9(r=0.56),IL-9 was positively related to IL-21(r=0.397),IFN-γ mRNA was positively related to IL-10 mRNA(r=0.623),and TNF-α was positively related to TGF-β(r=0.577).Compared with reactive lymphoid hyperplasias patients,the mean fluorescence intensities of GAT A3 and CRTH2 representing ILC2 and IL-9 in cervical lymph nodes were significantly increased in the CLL group(all P<0.001),and showed colocalization.Conclusion:In CLL patients,the proportions of ILC2 and IL-9 in peripheral blood and lymph nodes increase,and ILC2 and IL-9 show colocalization in lymph nodes.There is a positive correlation between ILC2 and IL-9 in the peripheral blood of CLL patients,the ability of ILC2 to secrete IL-9 is increased,and ILC2 may affect the occurrence and development of CLL through IL-9.

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