Arginine supplement strengthens immune response to cancer and viruses, study finds
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Rockefeller University researchers reported on August 3 that the amino acid arginine restores production of MHC-1, a protein that alerts the immune system to cancerous or virus-infected cells. In mice, arginine-rich diets reduced colon tumors and viral infection severity, according to a study published in Cell. The findings suggest that inexpensive arginine supplements could enhance existing cancer immunotherapies.
Immune Evasion Mechanism
Low arginine levels reduce a cell’s ability to produce MHC-1, a protein that displays fragments of abnormal proteins on the cell surface for immune inspection. When MHC-1 is scarce, cancer cells and virus-infected cells can evade detection by T cells. A 2023 study from the same Rockefeller University lab, led by Sohail Tavazoie, showed that depriving colon cancer cells of arginine caused them to accumulate more mutations.
Study Findings in Mice
Researchers administered a moderate arginine dose—equivalent to a couple of over-the-counter tablets—to mice and observed restored expression of genes involved in MHC-1 production. The arginine-rich diet led to significantly fewer colon tumors and milder viral infections. The findings, published in Cell, involved first author Qiushuang Wu and senior author Sohail Tavazoie of Rockefeller University.
Therapeutic Potential
Arginine is an inexpensive, readily available amino acid encoded by six different codons, underscoring its broad biological importance. The study is among the first to show that amino acid availability can directly influence gene expression. Tavazoie suggests the supplement could be rapidly tested in patients receiving immunotherapies or given to high-risk populations exposed to viral pathogens.
What's Next
Researchers hope to launch clinical trials soon to test arginine supplementation in patients undergoing immunotherapy. Whether high arginine intake causes adverse effects or translates effectively from mice to humans remains uncertain.
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Arginine supplement strengthens immune response to cancer and viruses, study finds
