Proteins in milk, meat, and other foods can trigger allergic reactions in some people. However, these proteins—called antigens—can also interact with the immune system to suppress small intestinal tumors. A recent study in mice found that food antigens help activate immune responses in the small intestine, potentially reducing the risk of tumors.

Researchers fed mice genetically prone to developing intestinal tumors—similar to the genetic predisposition to familial adenomatous polyposis in humans—an antigen-free diet to pinpoint the role of food components in immune activation. They also depleted immune tissues in the animals' small intestines called Peyer’s patches to investigate how food antigens trigger immune cells.

They found that food antigens activate immune cells in Peyer’s patches, suppressing small intestinal tumor formation. This immune response is crucial for maintaining a tumor-suppressive environment in the gut.

These findings suggest that food antigens help protect against small intestinal tumors in mice by activating immune cells that promote tumor suppression, highlighting their potential as a protective factor in gut health. The microbiome plays a key role in gut health, too. Learn more in this episode featuring Dr. Eran Elinav.