Extracellular nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase: role in disease pathophysiology and as a biomarker

Front Immunol. 2023 Oct 17:14:1268756. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1268756. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) plays a central role in mammalian cell metabolism by contributing to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide biosynthesis. However, NAMPT activity is not limited to the intracellular compartment, as once secreted, the protein accomplishes diverse functions in the extracellular space. Extracellular NAMPT (eNAMPT, also called visfatin or pre-B-cell colony enhancing factor) has been shown to possess adipocytokine, pro-inflammatory, and pro-angiogenic activities. Numerous studies have reported the association between elevated levels of circulating eNAMPT and various inflammatory and metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, lung injury and cancer. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge on eNAMPT biology, proposed roles in disease pathogenesis, and its potential as a disease biomarker. We also briefly discuss the emerging therapeutic approaches for eNAMPT inhibition.

Keywords: adipocytokine; cancer; eNAMPT; inflammation; metabolic diseases.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers
  • Diabetes Mellitus*
  • Extracellular Space / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Mammals / metabolism
  • Neoplasms*
  • Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase / metabolism

Substances

  • Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase
  • Biomarkers

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement no. 813284.