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Updated: Aug 8, 2026
10:36
Modeling Neuronal Death and Degeneration in Mouse Primary Cerebellar Granule Neurons
Published on: November 6, 2017
NAD+ and NADH in cellular functions and cell death
1Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA. Weihai.Ying@ucsf.edu
Summary
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) and its reduced form (NADH) are vital for cellular functions, energy metabolism, and aging. Intranasal NAD+ administration shows promise in reducing brain damage, suggesting new therapeutic avenues.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Aging Research
Background:
- NAD+ and NADH are crucial for energy metabolism, cell death, calcium homeostasis, and gene expression.
- These molecules regulate key enzymes like sirtuins and PARPs, implicated in aging and cellular functions.
- Emerging evidence suggests extracellular NAD+ acts as a signaling molecule and can be transported across cell membranes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the multifaceted roles of NAD+ and NADH in biological processes.
- To investigate the potential of NAD+ as a therapeutic agent for conditions like ischemic brain damage.
- To propose a new paradigm for understanding NAD+ and NADH metabolism and activity.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on NAD+ and NADH functions.
- Analysis of NAD+/NADH-dependent enzymes and their roles.
- Presentation of recent findings on intranasal NAD+ administration in reducing ischemic brain damage.
Main Results:
- NAD+ and NADH regulate critical cellular processes, including calcium signaling via TRPM2 and ryanodine receptors.
- Sirtuins and PARPs, NAD+-dependent enzymes, are key players in aging and cell death.
- Intranasal NAD+ administration significantly reduced ischemic brain damage in studies.
Conclusions:
- NAD+ and NADH are fundamental molecules influencing nearly all major biological processes, potentially alongside ATP and Ca2+.
- Further research into NAD+ and NADH could unlock new strategies for combating aging and various diseases.
- Extracellular NAD+ represents a novel signaling pathway with therapeutic implications.
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