A simple supplement could help the immune system fight cancer and viruses
Low arginine levels may allow cancer cells and viruses to slip past the immune system by reducing production of a crucial cellular warning protein. In mice, arginine-rich diets led to fewer colon tumors and milder viral infections, suggesting a simple supplement could have powerful therapeutic potential.
Arginine is an amino acid that supports various bodily functions, including protein production. A deficiency in arginine has been linked to several diseases, such as colon cancer. Researchers at Rockefeller University have now found that arginine deficiency may also weaken the immune system, making it harder for cells to recognize and fight off cancerous or virus-infected cells.
In 2023, the team reported that colon cancer cells deprived of arginine accumulated more mutations. Their latest research demonstrates that arginine deficiency may impair the immune system by hindering the production of MHC-1, a protein that alerts the immune system to threats like mutated cells and viruses. The researchers discovered that a moderate intake of arginine, approximately equal to the amount found in a couple of over-the-counter tablets, could potentially restore the expression of genes involved in MHC-1 production.
Study co-author Qiushuang Wu, a postdoc in the lab, suggests that arginine supplementation could be tested in patients receiving immunotherapies or given to high-risk populations exposed to viral pathogens. Amino acids, including arginine, are the building blocks of proteins, and their production is directed by specific codons in the DNA. The study found that arginine was the most depleted amino acid in several diseases, including colon cancer, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2.
Researchers discovered that arginine deficiency interfered with protein production, particularly MHC-1 proteins, which are crucial for alerting the immune system to threats. When cells were deprived of arginine, ribosomes, the cellular machines that assemble proteins, stalled while trying to produce MHC-1. This resulted in fewer signals being sent to T cells, allowing potentially dangerous cells to evade immune detection.
The study found that mice fed a diet low in arginine developed more colon cancer tumors, while those given an arginine-rich diet developed fewer tumors.
The findings suggest that arginine supplementation could be beneficial in combination with other therapies for treating both cancer and viral infections. As arginine is inexpensive and readily available, researchers hope that therapeutic and preventative studies could be undertaken soon.
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