A study published in Nature by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh has found that the metabolic state following a meal influences T cell function.
The research indicates that T cells collected after food intake demonstrate measurable metabolic and functional advantages over those collected during fasting.
Key Findings
- The study examined immune responses in both human volunteers and mouse models under fasting and post-meal (postprandial) conditions.
- T cells collected after a meal showed greater metabolic activity compared to those collected during fasting. Measured differences included increased glucose uptake, higher intracellular lipid levels, and greater mitochondrial mass.
- These T cells also produced higher levels of the cytokines IFN-γ and TNF.
- In mouse models, T cells from fed animals proliferated more aggressively and generated stronger immune responses, even after being transferred into the same host.
Mechanism and Duration
- Researchers identified dietary fats carried in chylomicrons as the primary driver of the enhancement. The effect operates through mTORC1 signaling and increased translational capacity (protein production), rather than through genetic changes.
- The advantage was found to persist for up to seven days following a meal.
Implications for Immunotherapy
In preclinical experiments involving mouse models of melanoma and leukemia, CAR-T cells generated from T cells collected after a meal showed improved tumor control and greater persistence compared to CAR-T cells generated from fasted T cells.
- Greg Delgoffe, Ph.D., corresponding author and professor of immunology at the University of Pittsburgh, stated that the observed difference between T cells from fed and fasted individuals was unexpected and long-lasting.
- The study's authors note that the findings suggest the timing of immune cell collection could be a relevant variable in T cell-based immunotherapies.
- The study does not recommend dietary changes for patients or suggest that eating treats cancer. Researchers state that direct clinical testing is still needed.
Funding
The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Cancer Research Institute, The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research, and other sources.