Researchers report that taurine, an amino acid found in some energy drinks, supplements and foods, may both feed leukemia and weaken bone. The finding links cancer metabolism to bone health and could be important for people with cancer who already face bone loss.
Last year, the team led by Jeevisha Bajaj published work in Nature showing taurine can fuel leukemia stem cells. The latest paper in Cell Death & Disease extends that work by studying the bone marrow microenvironment and how leukemia cells’ use of taurine may change its availability for other marrow cells.
PhD candidate Christina M. Kaszuba led experiments in mice and in the Bajaj lab. Mice lacking the ability to take up taurine had bones that appeared weaker and brittle. The researchers focused on mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), which develop into bone and cartilage and help renew bone. RNA analysis showed a taurine transporter gene is enriched in MSCs. Loss of this transporter caused defects in MSC maturation, and bone growth and strength were affected.
The authors suggest a possible trade-off: if leukemia cells rapidly use taurine and deplete marrow levels, other cells that need taurine for bone strength may suffer. The team notes more work is needed to understand taurine uptake dynamics in the marrow. Future studies will investigate the effects of blocking taurine to suppress leukemia versus supplementing taurine to support bone repair. Bajaj urges people with cancer to talk with their oncologists before using supplements and to be cautious about taking taurine. The research draws on the University of Rochester’s Wilmot Cancer Institute Cancer Microenvironment program and was funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Difficult words
- taurine — A common amino acid in some drinks
- amino acid — A small molecule used to build proteinsan amino acid
- microenvironment — Local environment around cells in a tissue
- marrow — Soft tissue inside bones that makes blood cellsbone marrow
- mesenchymal stromal cell — A bone marrow cell that becomes bonemesenchymal stromal cells
- transporter — A protein that moves substances across cellstaurine transporter gene
- deplete — To reduce the amount of something greatly
- oncologist — A doctor who treats people with canceroncologists
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- What are the possible benefits and risks of blocking taurine versus supplementing taurine for cancer patients?
- How should doctors and patients balance cancer treatment goals with preserving bone strength?
- What further studies would help clarify how taurine moves and is used in the bone marrow?
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