Arginine supplements may help the immune system fight cancer and viruses
Researchers at Rockefeller University found that arginine deficiency impairs the immune system's ability to detect cancer cells and viruses, while arginine supplementation reduced tumors and viral symptoms in mouse models.
A study published in Cell suggests that a simple dietary supplement could help the immune system battle cancer and viral infections. Scientists at Rockefeller University discovered that a lack of arginine weakens a key immune response, but restoring it may have therapeutic potential.
Arginine is an amino acid essential for protein production in the body. The body produces arginine naturally and also obtains it from protein-rich foods. Abnormally low arginine levels have been linked to several diseases, including colon cancer. In 2023, Sohail Tavazoie's team reported that depriving colon cancer cells of arginine led to more mutations.
The latest research shows that arginine deficiency interferes with the production of MHC-1, a protein that displays abnormal or foreign proteins on cell surfaces, helping T cells identify threats. When arginine is scarce, ribosomes stall while trying to build MHC-1, leaving cells with fewer signals to alert the immune system. This allows dangerous cells to escape detection more easily.
The researchers found that a moderate amount of arginine, roughly equal to a couple of over-the-counter tablets, could restore the expression of genes involved in MHC-1 production. First author Qiushuang Wu said the findings suggest that increasing arginine intake could be beneficial, possibly in combination with other therapies for cancer and viral infections.
In mouse experiments, animals fed a low-arginine diet developed more colon cancer tumors, while those given more arginine developed fewer. Similar results were seen in models of influenza and SARS-CoV-2: an arginine-rich diet produced milder symptoms, and giving arginine after influenza infection also improved outcomes.
The authors note that arginine levels naturally decline with age, which may partly explain why older people are more vulnerable to certain cancers and respiratory viruses. Tavazoie emphasized that arginine is inexpensive and readily available, and hopes therapeutic and preventive studies can begin soon.
