Researchers have discovered that blocking a single protein, Ant2, can reprogram the body's T cells to fight tumors more aggressively, a significant advance in cancer immunotherapy.
Oct 1, 2025
Source:
ScienceDaily
A New Metabolic Approach to Immunotherapy
Scientists have identified a new way to boost the immune system's fight against cancer by targeting a single protein in T cells. This breakthrough fundamentally rewires how these immune cells generate energy, making them more resilient and effective tumor fighters.
The research, led by a team at Hebrew University and collaborators, focuses on blocking the Ant2 protein. The findings, published in several leading journals, shift the focus of immunotherapy from traditional immune pathways to cellular metabolism.
In mouse models, T cells modified to block Ant2 demonstrated a significantly more aggressive response against tumors, leading to measurably reduced tumor volumes. This represents a major advance with potential to enhance future cancer treatments.
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Source:
Nature
How Metabolic Reprogramming Works
The key to this new strategy lies in altering the energy source of the immune system's most critical soldiers: CD8+ T cells.
The Role of the Ant2 Protein
Ant2, or Adenine Nucleotide Translocator 2, is a protein located in the mitochondria, the powerhouses of our cells. Its primary job is to manage the flow of ATP, the main currency of cellular energy. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), cancer cells often exploit Ant2 to fuel their rapid growth and evade cell death.
Powering Up T Cells
By blocking Ant2, researchers forced T cells to switch their energy production method. This metabolic reprogramming resulted in T cells that were superior in several ways:
Enhanced Tumor Recognition: They became better at identifying and targeting cancer cells.
Rapid Replication: The cells multiplied more quickly to build a stronger army against the tumor.
Increased Stamina: They maintained their energy and effectiveness over prolonged periods.
The full scientific results, detailed in Nature Communications, show that these supercharged cells outperformed conventional immunotherapy approaches in preclinical tests.
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Source:
Nature
