A new study from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reveals that a 24-hour fast prepares the small intestine to recover from radiation damage, but only with the help of a specific gut bacterium. The preclinical research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows that fasting increases the abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila, which produces propionate to ready intestinal cells for regeneration.
The researchers, co-led by Helen Piwnica-Worms and Kunal Rai, found that the combination of fasting and the bacterium altered histones in intestinal cells, making genes involved in tissue repair more accessible. Without the bacterium, fasting no longer produced the same regenerative benefits; the protective response returned only when both fasting and AKK were present.
Radiation therapy for abdominal cancers can damage the delicate lining of the small intestine; patients may experience nausea, diarrhea and infections, and severe injuries can cause life-threatening complications. These risks can restrict the amount of radiation doctors can safely administer, potentially limiting treatment options. Previous work from the same lab had shown that fasting before radiation helps recovery, but the mechanism was unclear. The new study identifies a key player: the gut microbe AKK.
The team found that fasting boosted AKK levels, and the microbe produces propionate, which helps trigger changes inside intestinal cells. During fasting, a population of cells carrying repair programs becomes more abundant. After radiation, these cells can expand and help rebuild the lining.
"Fasting helps prepare intestinal cells to respond more quickly and effectively after injury, almost like training the cells with an emergency preparedness plan," Piwnica-Worms said. "This study helps explain how that plan is organized and identifies a key bacterium involved in coordinating the response."
The research is preclinical; further studies will be needed to determine whether the same mechanism operates in humans. One possibility is that the newly discovered pathway could help other healthy tissues recover from cancer treatment, particularly rapidly dividing cells such as bone marrow.
"Fasting is not always practical for cancer patients, and this work supports several other potential ways to enhance recovery after treatment," Rai said. "Whether through dietary interventions, targeted microbes or their metabolites, the goal is to help repair healthy tissue more effectively while patients receive the cancer therapies they need."
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- Partly supportedThe headline says fasting and a gut bacterium work together to prime intestines for radiation repair.Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily: “A 24-hour fast may help prepare the intestines to recover from radiation damage, but scientists have discovered that a particular gut bacterium plays a crucial role in making this possible.”
- SupportedThe summary says MD Anderson researchers identified a mechanism that could lead to safer cancer therapy.Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily: “The findings could eventually lead to new ways to protect healthy tissue during cancer treatment. By improving the intestine's ability to recover from radiation exposure, researchers hope to reduce serious side effects and potentially make radiation therapy safer and more effective.”
- Partly supportedA 24-hour fast prepares the small intestine to recover from radiation damage only with help from a specific gut bacterium.Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily: “A 24-hour fast may help prepare the intestines to recover from radiation damage, but scientists have discovered that a particular gut bacterium plays a crucial role in making this possible.”
- SupportedThe preclinical study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily: “Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , the study was co-led by Helen Piwnica-Worms, Ph.D., professor of Experimental Radiation Oncology, and Kunal Rai, Ph.D., professor of Genomic Medicine.”
- SupportedFasting increases Akkermansia muciniphila abundance, and the bacterium produces propionate that helps prepare intestinal cells to regenerate after radiation damage.Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily: “Researchers found that 24 hours of fasting increased the abundance of a beneficial bacterium called Akkermansia muciniphila , also known as AKK, in the small intestine. This microbe produces a substance called propionate, which helps trigger changes inside intestinal cells that make them better prepared to regenerate following radiation damage.”
- SupportedThe researchers were co-led by Helen Piwnica-Worms and Kunal Rai.Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily: “the study was co-led by Helen Piwnica-Worms, Ph.D., professor of Experimental Radiation Oncology, and Kunal Rai, Ph.D., professor of Genomic Medicine.”
- SupportedFasting and the bacterium altered histones in intestinal cells, making DNA regions containing tissue-repair genes more accessible.Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily: “Propionate works alongside other metabolic changes caused by fasting to modify proteins known as histones. [...] These modifications make portions of DNA more accessible, allowing cells to activate genes involved in tissue regeneration.”
- SupportedWithout AKK, fasting no longer produced the same regenerative benefits, and the protective response returned only when AKK was restored in combination with fasting.Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily: “Without it, fasting no longer produced the same regenerative benefits. Even more revealing, the protective response returned only when the bacterium was restored in combination with fasting.”
- SupportedRadiation can damage the small intestine’s lining, causing symptoms including nausea, diarrhea and infections; severe injuries can cause life-threatening complications.Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily: “When this protective lining becomes damaged, patients may experience nausea, diarrhea, and infections. Severe injuries can cause life-threatening complications.”
- SupportedPiwnica-Worms said, “Fasting helps prepare intestinal cells to respond more quickly and effectively after injury, almost like training the cells with an emergency preparedness plan.”Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily: “"Fasting helps prepare intestinal cells to respond more quickly and effectively after injury, almost like training the cells with an emergency preparedness plan," Piwnica-Worms said.”
- SupportedRai said fasting is not always practical for cancer patients and that dietary interventions, targeted microbes or their metabolites may help repair healthy tissue during cancer therapy.Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily: “"Fasting is not always practical for cancer patients, and this work supports several other potential ways to enhance recovery after treatment," Rai said. "Whether through dietary interventions, targeted microbes or their metabolites, the goal is to help repair healthy tissue more effectively while patients receive the cancer therapies they need."”
- SupportedThe research is preclinical, and further studies are needed to determine whether the mechanism operates in humans.Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily: “Although the results are promising, the research remains preclinical. Additional studies will be needed to determine whether the same protective mechanism operates in humans”