VITAMIN B-12: TISSUE REPAIR AND CELL RE-PROGRAMMING

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VITAMIN B-12: TISSUE REPAIR AND CELL RE-PROGRAMMING



Vitamin B12 is often touted for its role in supporting nerve function, producing red blood cells, and facilitating DNA synthesis. But a research team at IRB Barcelona, led by Dr. Manuel Serrano, has uncovered another side to this micronutrient: it’s crucial for cellular reprogramming and tissue repair. Their findings, published in Nature Metabolism, suggest that B12 may play a more significant role in regenerative medicine than previously realized.

The study zoomed in on cellular reprogramming—a process that mimics how tissues repair themselves. When the IRB team examined mice, they noticed that this reprogramming process consumed a surprising amount of vitamin B12. Run out of B12, and things start to stall: the process slows down and doesn’t work as well. Even though mice usually obtain enough vitamin B12 from their standard diet, simply adding a bit more vitamin B12 made the reprogramming process much more efficient.

This discovery took an interesting turn when the researchers tested it in a model of ulcerative colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease. They found that the cells repairing the gut also relied on this reprogramming process, and that adding more vitamin B12 helped these repairs along. This suggests a potential benefit of B12 supplementation for individuals with intestinal bowel diseases.

“Our research uncovers a critical role of vitamin B12 in cellular reprogramming and tissue repair. These findings hold promise for regenerative medicine, with the potential to benefit patients through improved nutrition,” Dr. Serrano explained.

The team delved into the details and discovered why vitamin B12 is so crucial: it’s essential for a specific metabolic reaction known as methylation. Cells initiating the repair process require a significant amount of methylation, which, in turn, necessitates ample B12. When there isn’t enough, the cells’ DNA exhibits epigenetic changes that disrupt how genes function. Supplementing with B12 corrects this imbalance and helps genes function properly, thereby improving the overall reprogramming process. Dr. Marta Kovatcheva, the study’s first author, confirmed these findings. She’ll soon be leading new research on partially reprogrammed cells in Milan.

But the story doesn’t end with tissue repair. In a separate study, Dr. Serrano’s group, working with teams at the University of Barcelona and Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, found that people with higher levels of B12 in their blood had lower markers of inflammation (specifically IL-6 and CRP). They saw the same thing in older mice. These results suggest that vitamin B12 may help lower inflammation, adding another potential benefit to its list.

This research was a team effort, involving collaborators from France, Spain, and several departments at IRB Barcelona and the University of Barcelona.

Dr. Serrano is now based at Altos Labs in Cambridge, UK. The project received support from a long list of organizations, including the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, the Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer, EMBO, the European Research Council, and numerous other organizations dedicated to advancing medical research.



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