Conversely, IRG1 knockout (KO) in EG7 tumor cells via the CRISPR/Cas9 technique not only abolished itaconate production induced by thimerosal treatment (Fig. 2K,L; Appendix Fig. S2L–N) but also markedly attenuated the IFNγ production and IL-2 promoter-driven LacZ activity in T cells co-cultured with EG7 cells (Fig. 2M; Appendix Fig. S2O). Here, IL2 is linked to neoplasm.