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Updated: Sep 13, 2025

Measuring Mitochondrial Function of Naïve and Effector CD8 T Cells
Published on: March 28, 2025
NAD + metabolism and function in innate and adaptive immune cells
Rebecca Mann1, Victoria Stavrou1, Sarah Dimeloe2
1Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy, School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
Abstract:
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) plays a central role in cellular metabolism and energy production, supporting many biological processes. Recent studies highlight the significance of NAD + in regulation of immune cell function, with implications for our understanding of immune homeostasis, inflammation, and disease. This review reports our current understanding on the role of NAD + in the immune system, specifically in macrophages and T cells, facilitating their metabolic reprogramming during differentiation and activation. It offers an overview of NAD + biosynthesis within these immune cells, describes its role in the modulation of immune cell metabolism and effector function, and highlights potential therapeutic applications of NAD + modulation in immunological disorders including autoimmune diseases and cancer.
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