Cklf, also known as chemokine-like factor 1, is a member of the CMTM family. The CMTM family consists of nine members including Cklf and CMTM1-CMTM8, located on different chromosomes. Cklf shows chemotactic activity and is involved in various biological systems such as hematopoiesis, immune, cardiovascular, and male reproductive systems [2,6].

In the context of diseases, Cklf has been found to be associated with multiple conditions. In microglial cells, Cklf treatment leads to an increase in mitophagy markers, but reduces mitophagy flux due to impaired lysosomal function, ultimately resulting in microglial activation and inflammation, which may provide a potential approach for treating neuroinflammatory diseases [1]. In solid tumors like high-risk neuroblastoma, Cklf is highly expressed by tumor cells, attracting CCR4-expressing CD4+ cells to create an immunosuppressive microenvironment and promote tumor aggression [3]. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), Cklf is upregulated and is an independent prognostic biomarker, also being correlated with immune cell infiltration [4]. In pre-B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, the transcript levels of Cklf at diagnosis are predictive of relapse [5].

In conclusion, Cklf plays important roles in immune-related processes and is closely associated with the development of neuroinflammatory diseases, certain tumors, and leukaemia. Research on Cklf using in vivo models helps to understand its function in these disease conditions, potentially providing new directions for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.