New study results show that magnesium plays a crucial role against cancer by helping T cells defend themselves againstSupports cancer cells. In addition, magnesium levels in the blood are an important factor in the immune system's ability to fight pathogens and cancer cells. According to the study authors, killer cells need a sufficient amount of the mineral to work efficiently. Their results can therefore contribute to new therapeutic approaches in the treatment of cancer patients.
How the immune system works against cancer thanks to magnesium
Magnesium deficiency is linked to a variety of diseases such as infections and cancer. Previous studies have shown that cancerous tumors spread more quickly in the bodies of mice when the animals are fed a diet low in magnesium. In addition, such a deficiency also impaired their defense against flu viruses. However, little research has been done to date on how this chemical element specifically affects the immune system in cancer. Now researchers from the biomedical department at the University of Basel and the University of Cambridge have discovered that T cells can only efficiently eliminate abnormal or infected cells in magnesium. In particular, magnesium is important against cancer because of the function of a T cell surface protein called LFA-1. This acts as a docking site that plays a key role in the activation of killer T cells. However, when inactive, this docking site is bent and therefore cannot bind efficiently to infected or diseased cells. This is where magnesium comes into play.
If magnesium is present in sufficient quantities near the T cells, it binds to LFA-1 and ensures that it remains in an extended - and therefore active - position. The fact that magnesium is essential for T cell functioning could be a highly significant finding for modern cancer immunotherapies. In experimental models, the researchers were able to show that the immune response of T cells against cancer cells is increased by increasing the local magnesium concentration in tumors. Whether regular intake of magnesium has an impact on the risk of cancer is a question that needs to be answeredthis studycannot be answered, according to the authors. As a next step, they are planning further prospective studies to test its clinical effect as a catalyst for the immune system.
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