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0This research explores the paradoxical link between obesity and improved immunotherapy efficacy, specifically focusing on how the diet–gut axis drives these clinical outcomes. By testing various nutritional models in mice, researchers discovered that obesogenic diets cultivate a distinct microbial ecosystem that enhances sensitivity to immune checkpoint inhibitors. The study identifies Lactobacillus johnsonii as a key bacterium that interacts with specific dietary fats to boost anti-tumor immunity through the production of aromatic amino acid metabolites. Findings demonstrate that switching to a high-fat diet or performing fecal microbiota transplants can successfully reprogram the immune environment to overcome treatment resistance. Ultimately, the results suggest that dietary interventions can be leveraged to optimize the performance of cancer immunotherapies by reshaping the gut microbiome.
References:
Desharnais L, Swaby A, Messaoudene M, et al. Diet–microbiome synergy underlies obesity-associated immunotherapy efficacy[J]. Nature, 2026: 1-12.
