L-Theanine inhibits neuroblastoma cell proliferation via uptake through Slc38a1
L-Theanine inhibited proliferation of NSC-34 mouse motor neuron-like hybrid cells most effectively among neural cell lines tested. This inhibition was completely alleviated by co-administration of α-(methylamino) isobutyric acid or leucine, suggesting theanine uptake occurs via Slc38a1 and excretion via Slc7a5. The inhibition persisted even without glutamine and did not correlate with mTOR phosphorylation changes.
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L-Theanine inhibits neuroblastoma cell proliferation via uptake through Slc38a1 The current body of evidence comprises 1 study. EvidenceHub rates the overall confidence at 24/100 (low).
The Claim
L-Theanine inhibits neuroblastoma cell proliferation via uptake through Slc38a1
This conclusion is most relevant to: NSC-34 mouse motor neuron-like hybrid cells and other neural cell lines (in vitro).
What the Research Shows
The conclusion draws on 1 linked study. Highlights from the cited literature:
- ▸L-Theanine Uptake via Solute Carrier Family 38 Member 1 Inhibits Neuroblastoma Cell Growth. (Neurochemical research, 2025) —
How It Works
The proposed biological pathway:
- ▸Theanine is taken up into cells via solute carrier family 38 member 1 (Slc38a1)
- ▸Theanine is excreted from cells via solute carrier family 7 member 5 (Slc7a5)
- ▸Intracellular theanine inhibits cell proliferation through an unclear mechanism independent of glutamine availability and mTOR signaling
- ▸Result: Theanine inhibits proliferation of neural cells with abnormally proliferating Slc38a1, i.e., neuroblastoma
Who Might Benefit
Evidence fit by population:
- ▸NSC-34 mouse motor neuron-like hybrid cells and other neural cell lines (in vitro)
Recommended Dose
N/A
Limitations & Caveats
Important context when interpreting this evidence:
- ▸The molecular mechanism of theanine's antiproliferative effect after cellular uptake remains unclear
- ▸Study was conducted only in vitro using mouse cell lines, not in human subjects or in vivo models
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main finding of this study?▼
L-Theanine inhibits the proliferation of neuroblastoma cells by entering cells through the Slc38a1 transporter, though the exact intracellular mechanism is unknown.
Does L-Theanine affect normal neural cells?▼
The study focused on neural cell lines, particularly NSC-34 mouse motor neuron-like hybrid cells, and found theanine most effectively inhibited their proliferation compared to other neural cells tested.
How does L-Theanine enter cells?▼
L-Theanine uptake occurs via the glutamine transporter Slc38a1, and excretion occurs via the glutamine/leucine exchanger Slc7a5.
Is this study relevant to human sleep?▼
The abstract mentions theanine's known effects on alleviating stress and maintaining natural sleep, but this study specifically investigates its cancer-suppressing effect on neuroblastoma cells, not sleep.
References
- 1.Kawada K, Matsushima Y, Nakamura R, Nishio M, Watanabe Y, Araki S, Sudo T, Yoshikawa S, Shibata M, Kinjo T, Uno K, Higashiura Y, Yamamuro A, Ishimaru Y, Yoshioka Y, Maeda S, Kuramoto N. “L-Theanine Uptake via Solute Carrier Family 38 Member 1 Inhibits Neuroblastoma Cell Growth..” Neurochemical research, 2025. PMID: 41410739 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-025-04635-0