NAD+ protects against EAE by regulating CD4+ T-cell differentiation

Nat Commun. 2014 Oct 7:5:5101. doi: 10.1038/ncomms6101.

Abstract

CD4(+) T cells are involved in the development of autoimmunity, including multiple sclerosis (MS). Here we show that nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)) blocks experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a mouse model of MS, by inducing immune homeostasis through CD4(+)IFNγ(+)IL-10(+) T cells and reverses disease progression by restoring tissue integrity via remyelination and neuroregeneration. We show that NAD(+) regulates CD4(+) T-cell differentiation through tryptophan hydroxylase-1 (Tph1), independently of well-established transcription factors. In the presence of NAD(+), the frequency of T-bet(-/-) CD4(+)IFNγ(+) T cells was twofold higher than wild-type CD4(+) T cells cultured in conventional T helper 1 polarizing conditions. Our findings unravel a new pathway orchestrating CD4(+) T-cell differentiation and demonstrate that NAD(+) may serve as a powerful therapeutic agent for the treatment of autoimmune and other diseases.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / immunology*
  • Homeostasis / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Multiple Sclerosis / immunology*
  • Myelin Sheath / drug effects*
  • NAD / pharmacology*
  • Regeneration / drug effects*
  • Tryptophan Hydroxylase / drug effects
  • Tryptophan Hydroxylase / metabolism

Substances

  • NAD
  • Tph1 protein, mouse
  • Tryptophan Hydroxylase