MIT discovers amino acid that helps the gut heal itself

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A recent study from MIT reveals that cysteine, an amino acid found in protein-rich foods, significantly enhances the regeneration of intestinal tissue by activating a previously unknown immune signaling pathway. Researchers discovered that dietary cysteine boosts the activity of intestinal stem cells, which are essential for repairing damage in the small intestine—particularly after injuries caused by radiation or chemotherapy.

Source: MIT


Key Findings

  • Cysteine, when consumed through diet, is absorbed by intestinal cells and converted into coenzyme A (CoA).

  • CoA accumulates in the gut lining, where it is taken up by CD8 T cells, a type of immune cell.

  • This uptake triggers CD8 T cells to proliferate and secrete interleukin-22 (IL-22), a signaling molecule that promotes stem cell regeneration.

  • IL-22 release enhances the growth of both intestinal stem cells and progenitor cells, accelerating tissue repair.

This is the first study to link a single dietary nutrient directly to stem cell-driven gut regeneration and to identify CD8 T cells as a source of IL-22 in this context.

Implications for Cancer Treatment

Mice fed a cysteine-rich diet showed faster recovery from radiation-induced intestinal damage. Preliminary, unpublished data also indicate improved regeneration following treatment with 5-fluorouracil, a common chemotherapy agent. These findings suggest that cysteine supplementation could potentially reduce gastrointestinal side effects in cancer patients undergoing radiation or chemotherapy.

Omer Yilmaz, senior author and associate professor of biology at MIT, emphasized the therapeutic potential:
"The beauty here is we're not using a synthetic molecule; we're exploiting a natural dietary compound."

Dietary Sources and Bioavailability

Cysteine is naturally present in:

  • Meat

  • Dairy products

  • Legumes

  • Nuts

While the body can synthesize cysteine from methionine in the liver, dietary cysteine delivers higher concentrations directly to the gut, making it more effective for intestinal repair.

Beyond the Gut

The researchers are now investigating whether cysteine can stimulate regeneration in other tissues, including ongoing experiments on hair follicle regrowth. They also plan to screen other amino acids for similar effects on stem cell function and gut health.

Published in Nature, this work opens new avenues for nutritional interventions in tissue repair and highlights the profound impact of individual nutrients on cellular regeneration.

Support for the study came from the National Institutes of Health, the V Foundation, the Kathy and Curt Marble Cancer Research Award, the Koch Institute-Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center Bridge Project, the American Federation for Aging Research, the MIT Stem Cell Initiative, and the National Cancer Institute.

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