THE cellular waste they are used as fuel from immune cells that protect us from infections and from cancer: this was stated in a recent study by a team of researchers from the Department of Metabolism and Nutritional Programming of the Van Andel Institute.
The results of the Research have been published in the scientific journal Cell Metabolism.
Immune cells fuel with cellular waste – this is what the research says
The discovery of immune cells also fueling cellular waste is very important as it opens new frontiers for future personalized dietary recommendations designed to boost the immune system and increase therapies for cancer and other diseases.
“Every process in the body is fueled by metabolism, which in turn is fueled by the nutrients we consume through our diet,” said Russell Jones, Ph.D., chair of the Van Andel Institute’s Department of Metabolism and Nutritional Programming and author Research Senior: “We found that immune cells are much more flexible in selecting the nutrient fuels they consume and, more importantly, they prefer certain nutrients that had previously been dismissed as cellular waste. This understanding is essential to optimize T lymphocyte responses and develop new strategies to increase our ability to fight disease ”.
T lymphocytes are the soldiers of the immune system and have the function of attacking bacteria, viruses and even cancer cells. Immune cells absorb nutrients from the foods we eat to generate the energy needed to do their job. Research results showed that cellular waste improves the functions of T lymphocytes.
The results of the study were obtained thanks to the use of a new approach that could reshape the way metabolism is studied. Historically, T cells have been grown in the laboratory in media dishes containing nutrients. However, most of these methods do not fully reflect the rich range of nutrients in our bodies. To solve the problem, Jones and his team of collaborators developed media rich in a more diverse range of nutrients.
“Previously, we were feeding immune cells a very simple diet, the equivalent of eggs and toast,” Jones explained: “We found that when we offer them a full buffet, these cells actually prefer a wider range of ‘fuels’ than previously believed. This has important implications for how we adapt dietary recommendations as ways to promote health and fight disease ”.
An example is lactate, a cellular waste product responsible for muscle pain after a long workout. When presented with glucose, a common sugar found in the body and laboratory media, and lactate, T cells preferentially used lactate to fuel energy production, a decision that improved their function.
Lactate is also an important byproduct of cancer cells and facilitates the cancer’s ability to invade other tissues and evade attack from the immune system. Some research has shown that too much lactate could be harmful to T lymphocytes. Jones’ group work indicates that, at lower levels, lactate can actually improve T cell function.
The research results also highlighted that the function and survival of T cells is strongly influenced by the nutrients available in their environment. Moving forward, Jones and his colleagues aim to delve into the intricate relationships between metabolism and the immune system in search of new insights to further illuminate how these crucial systems work together.
Jones, with respect to the study of the environment of T lymphocytes added: “” It is like observing the behavior of animals in a zoo compared to that in nature. Our immune cells don’t function in a vacuum, but work together with a host of other cells and factors, which influence how and when energy is used. Understanding cellular metabolism is a fundamental element of therapeutic development. Our results reinforce the need to study these cells as close as possible to a natural environment ”.
“Immune cells are much more dynamic in how they metabolically respond to infections and diseases than we previously thought. For a while, we were at a point in metabolism research that is like being in the dark under a street lamp: we could only see immediately in front of us. These findings will help us turn the spotlight and light the way to a more complete understanding of what immune cells need for optimal function, ”concluded the scientist.
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