Could arginine supplements help boost immune responses to cancer, viruses?

The researchers tested arginine supplementation in mice and learned that as arginine levels increased, cancer tumors decreased and viral infection outcomes improved. A new study led by Rockefeller University researchers found that arginine levels may affect how the immune system recognizes cancer cells and virus-infected cells. These conditions may activate immune cells that produce arginase, an enzyme that breaks down arginine. Next, the researchers restricted arginine in human and mouse colorectal cancer cells. The researchers measured how much antigen the cancer cells displayed and how effectively CD8 T cells killed them.