Spermidine activates mitochondrial trifunctional protein and improves antitumor immunity in mice

A paper published in Science (2022)by Al- Habsi et al conducted in aged mice, investigated how CD8+T cells, key players in tumor immunity, were impacted by spermidine supplementation. The authors found that spermidine supplementation enhanced fatty acid oxidation in CD8+T cells by directly binding and activating  mitochondrial trifunctional protein. In so doing, mitochondrial activities in CD8+T cells were enhanced and the cells were effectively rejuvenated. Spermidine also enhanced the antitumor activity of PD-1 blockade immunotherapy, a cancer therapy often ineffective in the elderly, in aged mice and in young mice unresponsive to PD-1 therapy alone.

Of course, these studies need to be replicated in humans. But, there is reason to believe that spermidine may play a role in preventing and improving outcomes in age-related immune pathologies and combatting unresponsiveness of PD-1 blockade therapy regardless of patient age.