A need for NAD+ in muscle development, homeostasis, and aging

Skelet Muscle. 2018 Mar 7;8(1):9. doi: 10.1186/s13395-018-0154-1.

Abstract

Skeletal muscle enables posture, breathing, and locomotion. Skeletal muscle also impacts systemic processes such as metabolism, thermoregulation, and immunity. Skeletal muscle is energetically expensive and is a major consumer of glucose and fatty acids. Metabolism of fatty acids and glucose requires NAD+ function as a hydrogen/electron transfer molecule. Therefore, NAD+ plays a vital role in energy production. In addition, NAD+ also functions as a cosubstrate for post-translational modifications such as deacetylation and ADP-ribosylation. Therefore, NAD+ levels influence a myriad of cellular processes including mitochondrial biogenesis, transcription, and organization of the extracellular matrix. Clearly, NAD+ is a major player in skeletal muscle development, regeneration, aging, and disease. The vast majority of studies indicate that lower NAD+ levels are deleterious for muscle health and higher NAD+ levels augment muscle health. However, the downstream mechanisms of NAD+ function throughout different cellular compartments are not well understood. The purpose of this review is to highlight recent studies investigating NAD+ function in muscle development, homeostasis, disease, and regeneration. Emerging research areas include elucidating roles for NAD+ in muscle lysosome function and calcium mobilization, mechanisms controlling fluctuations in NAD+ levels during muscle development and regeneration, and interactions between targets of NAD+ signaling (especially mitochondria and the extracellular matrix). This knowledge should facilitate identification of more precise pharmacological and activity-based interventions to raise NAD+ levels in skeletal muscle, thereby promoting human health and function in normal and disease states.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aging / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Homeostasis / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Space / metabolism
  • Muscle Development / physiology*
  • Muscle Proteins / metabolism
  • Muscle, Skeletal / drug effects
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
  • Muscular Diseases / metabolism
  • NAD / physiology*
  • Niacinamide / analogs & derivatives
  • Niacinamide / pharmacology
  • Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase / metabolism
  • Pyridinium Compounds
  • Regeneration / drug effects
  • Regeneration / physiology
  • Signal Transduction / physiology

Substances

  • Muscle Proteins
  • Pyridinium Compounds
  • nicotinamide-beta-riboside
  • NAD
  • Niacinamide
  • Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase