Scientists have found a way to speed up intestinal recovery after chemotherapy
Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have discovered that the amino acid cysteine, found in protein-rich foods, helps repair intestinal tissue after damage. The study showed that this substance activates a specific immune response that stimulates the growth of stem cells in the small intestine. This was reported on May 21 by Science Daily magazine.
Omer Yilmaz, Director of the MIT Stem Cell Initiative
The study suggests that if we give these patients a cysteine-rich diet or cysteine supplements, perhaps we can reduce the damage caused by chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The beauty here is that we are not using a synthetic molecule, but a natural dietary compound.
In experiments on mice, the scientists tested 20 different amino acids. Cysteine has demonstrated the strongest regenerative effect. The researchers found that when this amino acid is absorbed, intestinal cells convert it into a CoA molecule, which then activates immune cells (CD8 T lymphocytes). These cells begin to produce the IL-22 protein, which plays a key role in tissue healing and stem cell renewal.
According to Yilmaz, interestingly, feeding mice a diet rich in cysteine leads to an expansion of the immune cell population, which is not usually associated with the production of IL-22 and the regulation of intestinal stem cells.
According to the publication, the effect was mainly observed in the small intestine, where most of the dietary protein is absorbed. Accelerated recovery after radiation exposure was recorded in mice on a cysteine-rich diet.
Cysteine is naturally found in meat, dairy products, legumes, and nuts. Although the human body is able to synthesize it independently in the liver, researchers believe that it is dietary cysteine that has the most powerful effect on the intestines, as it gets there directly.
On May 16, Science Daily reported the discovery of nanoparticles that affect aging in the intestine. According to the researchers, they can also provoke inflammation and chronic diseases that are associated with aging.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
