Researchers led by Jeevisha Bajaj published earlier work showing taurine can fuel leukemia stem cells. The new paper in Cell Death & Disease looks at the bone marrow microenvironment and how cancer cells use taurine there.
PhD candidate Christina M. Kaszuba led experiments in mice and the lab. Mice that could not take up taurine had weaker, more brittle bones. The team studied mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), which become bone and cartilage, and found a taurine transporter gene is enriched in these cells. Scientists will study whether blocking taurine to fight leukemia or giving taurine to help bone is the better choice. Bajaj says people with cancer should ask their oncologist about supplements.
Difficult words
- taurine — an amino acid found in many animal cells
- microenvironment — the small environment around cells or tissue
- mesenchymal stromal cell — a bone marrow cell that makes bone and cartilagemesenchymal stromal cells
- transporter — a protein that moves substances into or out of cells
- enrich — to make something contain more of a substanceenriched
- oncologist — a doctor who treats people with cancer
- supplement — a product people take to add nutrients or vitaminssupplements
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Would you ask your oncologist about supplements if you had cancer? Why?
- Which should scientists study first: stopping taurine to fight leukemia or giving taurine to help bone? Explain briefly.
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