• Education
    • Higher Education
    • Scholarships & Grants
    • Online Learning
    • School Reforms
    • Research & Innovation
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Fashion & Beauty
    • Home & Living
    • Relationships & Family
  • Technology & Startups
    • Software & Apps
    • Startup Success Stories
    • Startups & Innovations
    • Tech Regulations
    • Venture Capital
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cybersecurity
    • Emerging Technologies
    • Gadgets & Devices
    • Industry Analysis
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy & Policy
Today Headline
  • Home
  • World News
    • Us & Canada
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • Middle East
  • Politics
    • Elections
    • Political Parties
    • Government Policies
    • International Relations
    • Legislative News
  • Business & Finance
    • Market Trends
    • Stock Market
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Corporate News
    • Economic Policies
  • Science & Environment
    • Space Exploration
    • Climate Change
    • Wildlife & Conservation
    • Environmental Policies
    • Medical Research
  • Health
    • Public Health
    • Mental Health
    • Medical Breakthroughs
    • Fitness & Nutrition
    • Pandemic Updates
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Tennis
    • Olympics
    • Motorsport
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV & Streaming
    • Celebrity News
    • Awards & Festivals
  • Crime & Justice
    • Court Cases
    • Cybercrime
    • Policing
    • Criminal Investigations
    • Legal Reforms
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • World News
    • Us & Canada
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • Middle East
  • Politics
    • Elections
    • Political Parties
    • Government Policies
    • International Relations
    • Legislative News
  • Business & Finance
    • Market Trends
    • Stock Market
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Corporate News
    • Economic Policies
  • Science & Environment
    • Space Exploration
    • Climate Change
    • Wildlife & Conservation
    • Environmental Policies
    • Medical Research
  • Health
    • Public Health
    • Mental Health
    • Medical Breakthroughs
    • Fitness & Nutrition
    • Pandemic Updates
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Tennis
    • Olympics
    • Motorsport
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV & Streaming
    • Celebrity News
    • Awards & Festivals
  • Crime & Justice
    • Court Cases
    • Cybercrime
    • Policing
    • Criminal Investigations
    • Legal Reforms
No Result
View All Result
Today Headline
No Result
View All Result
Home Science & Environment Medical Research

Glucose helps T cells build cancer-fighting structures, not just provide energy

August 5, 2025
in Medical Research
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
0
'Sweet' discovery reveals how glucose fuels cancer-fighting immune cells
4
SHARES
8
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


'Sweet' discovery reveals how glucose fuels cancer-fighting immune cells
Glucose is more than just an essential fuel for T cells—significant amounts of glucose also are used to build large molecules called glycosphingolipids (GSLs). These sugar-fat compounds are essential for T cell growth, internal communication and making proteins that T cells use to combat cancer. The findings, published in Cell Metabolism by Van Andel Institute scientists, offer a potential path toward improving T cells’ ability to fight cancer and infection. Image credit: Gabrielle Eisma. Credit: Van Andel Institute / Gabrielle Eisma

For cancer- and infection-fighting T cells, glucose offers far more than a simple sugar rush.

A new discovery by Van Andel Institute scientists reveals that glucose, an essential cellular fuel that powers immune cells, also aids in T cells’ internal communication and boosts their cancer-fighting properties. The findings may help optimize T cells’ ability to combat cancer and other diseases.

A study describing the work is published in Cell Metabolism.

“Immune cells are highly influenced by their environment,” said Joseph Longo, Ph.D., the study’s first author and a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Russell Jones, Ph.D. “We knew that T cells need access to glucose to function, but we didn’t know exactly why. It was previously thought that T cells mainly break down glucose for energy, but our new work shows that T cells use glucose as a building block for other molecules that are necessary to support T cells’ anti-cancer properties.”

The findings reveal that T cells allocate significant portions of glucose to build large molecules called glycosphingolipids (GSLs). These sugar-fat compounds are essential for T cell growth and making proteins that T cells use to combat cancer.

'Sweet' discovery reveals how glucose fuels cancer-fighting immune cells
Credit: Cell Metabolism (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2025.07.006

GSLs help form fat-rich structures on T cell surfaces called lipid rafts, which bring together cell signaling proteins that instruct the T cell to kill cancer cells. Without GSLs, these signals are weaker, making T cells less effective at destroying tumors.

“Both T cells and cancer cells leverage different nutrients to support varying aspects of their function,” Jones said. “The more we know about these different fuel sources, the better we can support T cells’ innate cancer-fighting abilities while also developing ways to possibly make cancer cells more vulnerable to immune attack.”

More information:
Joseph Longo et al, Glucose-dependent glycosphingolipid biosynthesis fuels CD8+ T cell function and tumor control, Cell Metabolism (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2025.07.006

Provided by
Van Andel Research Institute


Citation:
Glucose helps T cells build cancer-fighting structures, not just provide energy (2025, August 5)
retrieved 5 August 2025
from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-glucose-cells-cancer-energy.html

This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no
part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.




'Sweet' discovery reveals how glucose fuels cancer-fighting immune cells
Glucose is more than just an essential fuel for T cells—significant amounts of glucose also are used to build large molecules called glycosphingolipids (GSLs). These sugar-fat compounds are essential for T cell growth, internal communication and making proteins that T cells use to combat cancer. The findings, published in Cell Metabolism by Van Andel Institute scientists, offer a potential path toward improving T cells’ ability to fight cancer and infection. Image credit: Gabrielle Eisma. Credit: Van Andel Institute / Gabrielle Eisma

For cancer- and infection-fighting T cells, glucose offers far more than a simple sugar rush.

A new discovery by Van Andel Institute scientists reveals that glucose, an essential cellular fuel that powers immune cells, also aids in T cells’ internal communication and boosts their cancer-fighting properties. The findings may help optimize T cells’ ability to combat cancer and other diseases.

A study describing the work is published in Cell Metabolism.

“Immune cells are highly influenced by their environment,” said Joseph Longo, Ph.D., the study’s first author and a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Russell Jones, Ph.D. “We knew that T cells need access to glucose to function, but we didn’t know exactly why. It was previously thought that T cells mainly break down glucose for energy, but our new work shows that T cells use glucose as a building block for other molecules that are necessary to support T cells’ anti-cancer properties.”

The findings reveal that T cells allocate significant portions of glucose to build large molecules called glycosphingolipids (GSLs). These sugar-fat compounds are essential for T cell growth and making proteins that T cells use to combat cancer.

'Sweet' discovery reveals how glucose fuels cancer-fighting immune cells
Credit: Cell Metabolism (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2025.07.006

GSLs help form fat-rich structures on T cell surfaces called lipid rafts, which bring together cell signaling proteins that instruct the T cell to kill cancer cells. Without GSLs, these signals are weaker, making T cells less effective at destroying tumors.

“Both T cells and cancer cells leverage different nutrients to support varying aspects of their function,” Jones said. “The more we know about these different fuel sources, the better we can support T cells’ innate cancer-fighting abilities while also developing ways to possibly make cancer cells more vulnerable to immune attack.”

More information:
Joseph Longo et al, Glucose-dependent glycosphingolipid biosynthesis fuels CD8+ T cell function and tumor control, Cell Metabolism (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2025.07.006

Provided by
Van Andel Research Institute


Citation:
Glucose helps T cells build cancer-fighting structures, not just provide energy (2025, August 5)
retrieved 5 August 2025
from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-glucose-cells-cancer-energy.html

This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no
part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.



Tags: Health ResearchHealth Research NewsHealth ScienceMedicine ResearchMedicine Research NewsMedicine Science
Previous Post

Two people killed, five others injured in high-speed, wrong-way crash in Santa Ana

Next Post

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 Looks Back at Science Mission

Related Posts

low back pain

A course of psychotherapy for low back pain remains effective for at least three years, finds trial

August 5, 2025
1
Florida officials warn about raw milk after 21 people are sickened

Florida officials warn about raw milk after 21 people are sickened

August 5, 2025
8
Next Post

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 Looks Back at Science Mission

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Family calls for change after B.C. nurse dies by suicide after attacks on the job

Family calls for change after B.C. nurse dies by suicide after attacks on the job

April 2, 2025
Pioneering 3D printing project shares successes

Product reduces TPH levels to non-hazardous status

November 27, 2024

Police ID man who died after Corso Italia fight

December 23, 2024

Hospital Mergers Fail to Deliver Better Care or Lower Costs, Study Finds todayheadline

December 31, 2024
Harris tells supporters 'never give up' and urges peaceful transfer of power

Harris tells supporters ‘never give up’ and urges peaceful transfer of power

0
Des Moines Man Accused Of Shooting Ex-Girlfriend's Mother

Des Moines Man Accused Of Shooting Ex-Girlfriend’s Mother

0

Trump ‘looks forward’ to White House meeting with Biden

0
Catholic voters were critical to Donald Trump’s blowout victory: ‘Harris snubbed us’

Catholic voters were critical to Donald Trump’s blowout victory: ‘Harris snubbed us’

0
low back pain

A course of psychotherapy for low back pain remains effective for at least three years, finds trial

August 5, 2025
'Essentially Epstein Island': Law firm calls for probe into county sex abuse

‘Essentially Epstein Island’: Law firm calls for probe into county sex abuse

August 5, 2025

Trump tariffs spark GOP jitters

August 5, 2025
36.53% of Hong Kong students get university, diploma spots under allocation system

36.53% of Hong Kong students get university, diploma spots under allocation system

August 5, 2025

Recent News

low back pain

A course of psychotherapy for low back pain remains effective for at least three years, finds trial

August 5, 2025
1
'Essentially Epstein Island': Law firm calls for probe into county sex abuse

‘Essentially Epstein Island’: Law firm calls for probe into county sex abuse

August 5, 2025
4

Trump tariffs spark GOP jitters

August 5, 2025
5
36.53% of Hong Kong students get university, diploma spots under allocation system

36.53% of Hong Kong students get university, diploma spots under allocation system

August 5, 2025
5

TodayHeadline is a dynamic news website dedicated to delivering up-to-date and comprehensive news coverage from around the globe.

Follow Us

Browse by Category

  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Basketball
  • Business & Finance
  • Climate Change
  • Crime & Justice
  • Cybersecurity
  • Economic Policies
  • Elections
  • Entertainment
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Environmental Policies
  • Europe
  • Football
  • Gadgets & Devices
  • Health
  • Medical Research
  • Mental Health
  • Middle East
  • Motorsport
  • Olympics
  • Politics
  • Public Health
  • Relationships & Family
  • Science & Environment
  • Software & Apps
  • Space Exploration
  • Sports
  • Stock Market
  • Technology & Startups
  • Tennis
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Us & Canada
  • Wildlife & Conservation
  • World News

Recent News

low back pain

A course of psychotherapy for low back pain remains effective for at least three years, finds trial

August 5, 2025
'Essentially Epstein Island': Law firm calls for probe into county sex abuse

‘Essentially Epstein Island’: Law firm calls for probe into county sex abuse

August 5, 2025
  • Education
  • Lifestyle
  • Technology & Startups
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy & Policy

© 2024 Todayheadline.co

Welcome Back!

OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Business & Finance
  • Corporate News
  • Economic Policies
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Market Trends
  • Crime & Justice
  • Court Cases
  • Criminal Investigations
  • Cybercrime
  • Legal Reforms
  • Policing
  • Education
  • Higher Education
  • Online Learning
  • Entertainment
  • Awards & Festivals
  • Celebrity News
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Health
  • Fitness & Nutrition
  • Medical Breakthroughs
  • Mental Health
  • Pandemic Updates
  • Lifestyle
  • Fashion & Beauty
  • Food & Drink
  • Home & Living
  • Politics
  • Elections
  • Government Policies
  • International Relations
  • Legislative News
  • Political Parties
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Middle East
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Cybersecurity
  • Emerging Technologies
  • Gadgets & Devices
  • Industry Analysis
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Motorsport
  • Olympics
  • Climate Change
  • Environmental Policies
  • Medical Research
  • Science & Environment
  • Space Exploration
  • Wildlife & Conservation
  • Sports
  • Tennis
  • Technology & Startups
  • Software & Apps
  • Startup Success Stories
  • Startups & Innovations
  • Tech Regulations
  • Venture Capital
  • Uncategorized
  • World News
  • Us & Canada
  • Public Health
  • Relationships & Family
  • Travel
  • Research & Innovation
  • Scholarships & Grants
  • School Reforms
  • Stock Market
  • TV & Streaming
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy & Policy
  • About us
  • Contact

© 2024 Todayheadline.co