Researchers identified a signaling pathway in mice that boosts intestinal stem cells' regeneration abilities after fasting. When cancerous mutations occurred during this regenerative period, mice were more likely to develop early-stage intestinal tumors.
Fasting helps intestinal stem cells to regenerate and heal injuries but also leads to a higher risk of cancer in miceResearchers identified a signaling pathway in mice that boosts intestinal stem cells ' regeneration abilities after fasting. When cancerous mutations occurred during this regenerative period, mice were more likely to develop early-stage intestinal tumors.
"Having more stem cell activity is good for regeneration, but too much of a good thing over time can have less favorable consequences," says Omer Yilmaz, an MIT associate professor of biology, a member of MIT's Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, and the senior author of the new study. "Since that paper, we've really been focused on understanding what is it about fasting that drives regeneration," Yilmaz says."Is it fasting itself that's driving regeneration, or eating after the fast?"
Further studies revealed that these cells activate a cellular signaling pathway known as mTOR, which is involved in cell growth and metabolism. One of mTOR's roles is to regulate the translation of messenger RNA into protein, so when it's activated, cells produce more protein. This protein synthesis is essential for stem cells to proliferate.
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