Abstract
Although cellular senescence in pulmonary epithelial cells is a recognized driver of chronic lung diseases, the role of dietary factors in initiating this process remains poorly defined. Here, we identify monosodium glutamate (MSG), the primary source of umami taste, as a trigger of a novel dietary-lung axis. We demonstrate that chronic intake of high amounts of MSG elevates pulmonary L-glutamic acid (Glu) levels, which activate an NMDAR–miMOMP signaling cascade in pulmonary epithelial cells, leading to cellular senescence and lung injury. This mechanism is consistent across multiple high-Glu diets, including high-fat and high-protein regimens. Furthermore, we demonstrate that high-Glu diets exacerbate pulmonary fibrosis progression by increasing the senescence burden. Our findings suggest that dietary Glu is a modifiable risk factor for chronic lung diseases and reveal that the NMDAR-miMOMP-senescence axis is a potential therapeutic target for metabolic respiratory syndromes.
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All datasets supporting the conclusions of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82173893 to Dr. Luo) and the Central Guidance for Local Science and Technology Development Fund Project (No. 2024ZY01047 to Dr. Luo).
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Zizheng Gao and Jiaqi Zhang designed and performed the experiments, analyzed data, and wrote the manuscript draft. Yang Zhao established the animal models and performed histopathological evaluations. Bo Yang and Qiaojun He provided critical intellectual input and revised the manuscript. Zizheng Gao and Peihua Luo conceived the study, supervised all experiments, and finalized the manuscript. All authors reviewed, edited, and approved the final version.
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Zhang, J., Zhao, Y., Yang, B. et al. Umami induces pulmonary epithelial senescence via L-glutamic acid-triggered minority MOMP. npj Sci Food (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-00783-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-00783-x
