Is lymphokine a protein?

In our high school biology textbooks, we learn a lot about lymph and protein. Lymphokines appear to be colorless and tasteless. They can be found in various parts of our body. Most lymphokines are found in lymph nodes, which are an indispensable substance of our immune system. They are different from proteins. So are lymphokines proteins?

no. Lymphokines are polypeptide substances.

A type of cytokine, a hormone-like polypeptide substance produced by activated lymphocytes, which does not have the structure of an antibody and cannot bind to an antigen. Different lymphokines can exhibit a variety of biological activities and can act on corresponding target cells, causing changes in the characteristics or functions of target cells. Lymphocytes use lymphokines to act on nearby or distant target cells, which is parallel to the action of antibodies and is a very important way to achieve immune effects and immune regulation functions.

Lymph (Latin: lympha), also called lymph fluid, is a colorless and transparent liquid in the human and animal bodies. It contains lymphocytes and is formed when tissue fluid infiltrates into the lymphatic vessels. Lymph exists in various parts of the human body and plays a vital role in the human immune system. Lymphatic vessels are tubes similar in structure to veins and are distributed throughout the body. Lymph circulates in the lymphatic vessels and finally flows into the veins, serving as the medium for tissue fluid to flow into the blood.

Classification of lymph node malignancies

Malignant lymphoma

A malignant tumor that originates in the lymphatic tissue of the lymph nodes and other organs. Caused by malignant tumor proliferation of lymphocytes and tissue cells. According to the different pathological characteristics, it is divided into two categories: Hodgkin's disease (HD) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). HD is further divided into four types: lymphocyte-predominant type, nodular sclerosis type, mixed cellular type, and lymphocyte-depleted type (this type has the worst prognosis). There is no unified classification for NHL. It is usually divided into three groups: low, medium and high malignancy based on a combination of morphology, immunological markers and degree of malignancy, and each group is further divided into several types. Clinically, the disease is divided into four stages according to the extent of the lesion. Generally speaking, patients with low-grade malignancy in stages I to II have better efficacy and prognosis. This disease is not uncommon in China, with a mortality rate ranking 11th among malignant tumors. It can occur at any age, but is more common in adolescents. Most cases are NHL. The incidence of HD is significantly lower than that in European and American countries, and is similar to that in Japan. The main manifestations of this disease are fever, night sweats, weight loss, and enlarged lymph nodes, liver and spleen. The diagnosis depends on pathological examination of lymph nodes. Chest X-ray, B-ultrasound, CT and other examinations can determine deep lymph node enlargement, which is helpful for clinical staging. Patients with systemic symptoms at the time of diagnosis are B, otherwise they are A. The general treatment principles are: patients with stage I, II and some stage IIIA of HD and stage I and II of NHL should be treated with radiotherapy as the main treatment, with appropriate combined chemotherapy; patients with stage IIIB and IV of HD and stage III and IV of NHL should be treated with combined chemotherapy as the main treatment, supplemented by local radiotherapy. Those who have the conditions can undergo autologous bone marrow transplantation plus intensive chemotherapy, which may lead to a cure.

Lymphoma

Lymphoma is a disease of the lymph nodes characterized by the destruction of the normal structure of the lymph nodes and their replacement by the proliferation of morphologically immature lymphocytes. Lymphoma cancer mainly originates from the lymph nodes in the body, including the lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, and groin, as well as the lymph nodes inside the body, in the mediastinum of the chest or on both sides of the aorta in the abdomen, all the way to the lymph nodes in the groin. But it can also occur in lymphatic tissue outside the lymph nodes, which is called extranodal lymphoma. For example, malignant lymphoma originating from the gastrointestinal tract, bones, thyroid, head and neck, nasopharynx and other lymphatic tissues.