Mitochondria’s Hidden Signals Boost Cancer‑Shielding Cells

Scientists discovered that tiny fragments from mouse mitochondria can make the body’s defense cells work against tumors. These fragments, called formyl peptides, are normally produced when bacteria or mitochondria break down proteins. Researchers first identified five specific mouse peptides that trigger a rise in calcium inside cells and pull immune cells toward them. They then mixed these peptides with bone‑marrow cells grown in the lab and fed a mix of growth factors, GM‑CSF and IL‑6.The mixture produced a noticeable shift: about five to ten percent more neutrophil‑like suppressor cells appeared, while the number of monocyte‑like cells fell. These changes mirror what happens in living animals that have tumors, suggesting the peptides directly push bone‑marrow cells to become suppressors. The study shows that tumor‑released mitochondrial peptides can help tumors grow by turning the body’s own immune cells into blockers of T‑cell attacks.