Rockefeller University Researchers Discover Arginine's Role in Enhancing Immune Response Against Cancer and Viruses
Researchers at Rockefeller University have identified that a shortage of the amino acid arginine can weaken the immune system's ability to detect cancer cells and viruses. Arginine is crucial for the production of MHC-I proteins, which display cellular fragments to T cells, alerting them to potential threats. The study, published in Cell, demonstrated that increasing dietary arginine in mice restored MHC-I production, reduced colon tumor growth, and improved responses to influenza and SARS-CoV-2. These findings suggest that arginine supplementation could support cancer immunotherapy and antiviral treatments, though clinical trials are needed to confirm its efficacy in humans. 
