Scientists found that glucose not only fuels the body but also boosts T cells, strengthening their ability to fight and kill cancer cells effectively
Most research and health experts have long warned against sugar, often labelling it as poison for the human body. Many people now try to reduce or even completely eliminate it from their diet. However, sugar that we consume eventually breaks down into glucose in the blood, which serves as the body's primary source of energy. A new study has revealed that glucose in the blood plays a far more critical role than merely fuelling cells.
Scientists have discovered that glucose also strengthens T cells, the specialised immune cells that fight cancer, by boosting their internal communication and enhancing their ability to kill cancer cells.
According to a report published in Science Daily, researchers at the Van Andel Institute in the United States discovered that T cells do not simply consume glucose for energy. Instead, they use it to produce special large molecules called glycosphingolipids (GSLs). These molecules, made from a combination of sugar and fat, are vital for the growth and fighting ability of T cells.
Glycosphingolipids help form fat-rich structures, or lipid rafts, on the surface of T cells. These rafts act as platforms that bring together key communication proteins within T cells, sending strong signals that enable them to recognise and attack cancer cells more effectively.
The study highlights that when the body lacks sufficient GSLs, these signals weaken, leaving T cells unable to properly destroy cancer cells. Researchers stress that while both T cells and cancer cells rely on nutrients, understanding which nutrients strengthen T cells could pave the way for more effective cancer treatments.
Joseph Longo, one of the lead scientists, explained that T cells are highly influenced by their environment. "Glucose is not just a source of energy for them, but also a building material that increases their fighting power," he said.
The findings, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, open new possibilities for developing therapies that strengthen the immune system's natural ability to fight cancer by supporting T cells and limiting the nutrients available to cancer cells.