PD139 - IMMUNOLOGICAL AND METABOLIC EFFECTS OF METHIONINE RESTRICTION IN HUMANS

PD139

IMMUNOLOGICAL AND METABOLIC EFFECTS OF METHIONINE RESTRICTION IN HUMANS

A. F. Giannopoulou^1,*, E. A. Gressler¹, I. Panse¹, R. Zummach¹, S. Neuendorf¹, E. Wernick^1,2,3, S. Baehring^1,2,3, S. J. Hofer¹, A. K. Simon¹

¹Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), ²Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC), a cooperation of Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin , ³Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Rationale: Methionine restriction (MR) has been associated with improved healthspan and modulation of metabolic pathways, but its effects on immune cell function in healthy individuals remain unclear. We investigated whether MR enhances autophagy in immune cells, a key process linked to immune competence and aging.

Methods: A pilot 2-week methionine restriction (MR) intervention followed by a methionine refeeding phase was conducted in young, healthy volunteers. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were analyzed by flow cytometry to assess autophagic flux, mTOR signaling, and protein translation. Plasma and immune cell metabolomics and proteomics were performed to investigate underlying molecular mechanisms.

Data were analyzed using two-way repeated measures ANOVA with appropriate post hoc testing, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.

Results: We found a sex-specific immune response to MR, with significant increases in lymphocyte autophagy in men compared to baseline (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Short-term methionine restriction induces sex-specific changes in immune cell autophagy, linking a mild dietary intervention with cellular improvement. These findings support the potential of targeted dietary interventions to modulate immune function.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared