Arginine Boosts Immune Detection of Cancer

Researchers at Rockefeller University, led by Sohail Tavazoie, discovered that the amino acid arginine plays a critical role in immune surveillance. Low arginine levels impair production of MHC-1 proteins, which present abnormal or viral proteins to T cells, allowing cancer cells and viruses to evade immune detection. The team found that arginine deficiency stalls ribosomes during translation of MHC-1 due to its high arginine codon content. Restoring arginine, even in moderate amounts, rescued MHC-1 expression. In mouse models, arginine-rich diets reduced colon tumors and mitigated influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, with post-infection arginine also improving outcomes. The findings, published in Cell, suggest arginine supplementation could enhance cancer immunotherapy and protect against respiratory viruses, especially in aging populations where arginine levels decline. The study was supported by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and the Weill Cancer East Hub.