Nicotinamide riboside attenuates age-associated metabolic and functional changes in hematopoietic stem cells

Nat Commun. 2021 May 11;12(1):2665. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-22863-0.

Abstract

With age, hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) undergo changes in function, including reduced regenerative potential and loss of quiescence, which is accompanied by a significant expansion of the stem cell pool that can lead to haematological disorders. Elevated metabolic activity has been implicated in driving the HSC ageing phenotype. Here we show that nicotinamide riboside (NR), a form of vitamin B3, restores youthful metabolic capacity by modifying mitochondrial function in multiple ways including reduced expression of nuclear encoded metabolic pathway genes, damping of mitochondrial stress and a decrease in mitochondrial mass and network-size. Metabolic restoration is dependent on continuous NR supplementation and accompanied by a shift of the aged transcriptome towards the young HSC state, more youthful bone marrow cellular composition and an improved regenerative capacity in a transplant setting. Consequently, NR administration could support healthy ageing by re-establishing a more youthful hematopoietic system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Aging*
  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Cells / cytology
  • Bone Marrow Cells / drug effects
  • Bone Marrow Cells / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Gene Expression Profiling / methods
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / cytology
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Models, Biological
  • NAD / metabolism*
  • Niacinamide / analogs & derivatives*
  • Niacinamide / pharmacology
  • Oxidative Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Pyridinium Compounds / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Pyridinium Compounds
  • nicotinamide-beta-riboside
  • NAD
  • Niacinamide