Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Oct 13, 2025 2 hours, 58 minutes ago
Medical News: Amino Acid Found in Everyday Foods Helps Rejuvenates the Gut
Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), including scientists from the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and the MIT Stem Cell Initiative, have uncovered a remarkable discovery about how a natural amino acid called cysteine can help rejuvenate and repair the small intestine. The findings show that cysteine activates immune pathways that boost the regeneration of intestinal stem cells, potentially leading to new dietary therapies that can help patients recover from radiation or chemotherapy-induced damage. This
Medical News report highlights how a simple change in diet could one day play a major role in medical recovery and gut health.
MIT Study Finds That the Amino Acid Cysteine Can Repair Intestinal Damage
Cysteine’s Natural Healing Power
The study revealed that cysteine—a semi-essential amino acid commonly found in meat, dairy, legumes, and nuts—triggers a unique immune response that enhances the intestine’s ability to heal itself. When consumed, cysteine activates CD8 T cells, a type of immune cell that releases interleukin-22 (IL-22), a cytokine known for promoting intestinal repair. These T cells gather in the intestinal lining and boost stem cell activity, helping the body replace damaged intestinal tissue more efficiently.
According to senior author Dr. Omer Yilmaz, associate professor of biology and director of the MIT Stem Cell Initiative, “The beauty here is we’re not using a synthetic drug but a natural dietary compound. Giving patients a cysteine-rich diet might lessen the tissue injury caused by chemotherapy or radiation.”
How the Gut Uses Cysteine to Regrow Itself
To uncover the effects of cysteine, the MIT team fed mice diets high in individual amino acids. Among the 20 tested, cysteine stood out for its powerful impact on intestinal stem cells. When absorbed by the intestine, cysteine is converted into a coenzyme called CoA, which triggers CD8 T cells to release IL-22. This powerful interaction between immune cells and intestinal tissue creates a regenerative environment that helps the gut repair itself after injury.
The researchers also observed that cysteine’s effects were strongest in the small intestine, where most protein absorption takes place. Interestingly, even though the liver can produce cysteine by converting methionine, dietary cysteine had a more targeted and potent impact on the gut’s healing process.
Potential Benefits for Cancer Patients and Beyond
The study showed that mice fed a cysteine-rich diet recovered more rapidly from radiation-induced intestinal injury. Early, unpublished findings also suggest cysteine may repair intestinal damage caused by chemotherapy drugs like 5-fluorouracil, which often harm the gut lining during treatment.
Beyond its regenerative benefits, cysteine is already known for its antioxidant properties,
but this research is the first to demonstrate its direct role in promoting stem cell renewal in the intestine. The scientists now plan to test whether cysteine could also encourage regeneration in other tissues, such as hair follicles or even neural cells.
A Step Toward Nutrient-Based Regenerative Medicine
This groundbreaking discovery opens a new frontier in dietary-based therapies, offering hope that nutrients could one day complement or even enhance traditional medical treatments. By pinpointing how specific amino acids like cysteine influence cellular regeneration, scientists can begin to design precision nutrition plans aimed at tissue repair and recovery.
In conclusion, the MIT study underscores how something as simple as a nutrient found in everyday foods can play a crucial role in healing and cellular renewal. While more research is needed to confirm the effects in humans, the findings suggest a future where diet becomes a key tool in combating treatment-related damage and promoting long-term gut health.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Nature.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09589-5
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/essential-amino-acid-diet-found-to-starve-colon-tumors
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/leucine-the-dual-role-amino-acid-that-powers-muscles-but-raises-confusions-in-cancer-treatment
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