NAD+ homeostasis in health and disease

  • Nat Metab. 2020 Jan;2(1):9-31. doi: 10.1038/s42255-019-0161-5.
Elena Katsyuba  1  2 ,  Mario Romani  #  1 ,  Dina Hofer  #  1  3 ,  Johan Auwerx  4
Affiliations
  • 1. Laboratory of Integrative Systems Physiology, Interfaculty Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
  • 2. Nagi Bioscience, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
  • 3. Thermo Fisher Scientific, Zug, Switzerland.
  • 4. Laboratory of Integrative Systems Physiology, Interfaculty Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland. [email protected].
  • # Contributed equally.
PMID: 32694684 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-019-0161-5
Abstract

The conceptual evolution of nicotinamide Adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) from being seen as a simple metabolic cofactor to a pivotal cosubstrate for proteins regulating metabolism and longevity, including the Sirtuin family of protein deacylases, has led to a new wave of scientific interest in NAD+. NAD+ levels decline during ageing, and alterations in NAD+ homeostasis can be found in virtually all age-related diseases, including neurodegeneration, diabetes and Cancer. In preclinical settings, various strategies to increase NAD+ levels have shown beneficial effects, thus starting a competitive race to discover marketable NAD+ boosters to improve healthspan and lifespan. Here, we review the basics of NAD+ biochemistry and metabolism, and its roles in health and disease, and we discuss current challenges and the future translational potential of NAD+ research.