CD38 ecto-enzyme in immune cells is induced during aging and regulates NAD+ and NMN levels

CCS Chini, TR Peclat, GM Warner, S Kashyap… - Nature …, 2020 - nature.com
CCS Chini, TR Peclat, GM Warner, S Kashyap, JM Espindola-Netto, GC de Oliveira
Nature metabolism, 2020nature.com
Decreased NAD+ levels have been shown to contribute to metabolic dysfunction during
aging. NAD+ decline can be partially prevented by knockout of the enzyme CD38. However,
it is not known how CD38 is regulated during aging, and how its ecto-enzymatic activity
impacts NAD+ homeostasis. Here we show that an increase in CD38 in white adipose tissue
(WAT) and the liver during aging is mediated by accumulation of CD38+ immune cells.
Inflammation increases CD38 and decreases NAD+. In addition, senescent cells and their …
Abstract
Decreased NAD+ levels have been shown to contribute to metabolic dysfunction during aging. NAD+ decline can be partially prevented by knockout of the enzyme CD38. However, it is not known how CD38 is regulated during aging, and how its ecto-enzymatic activity impacts NAD+ homeostasis. Here we show that an increase in CD38 in white adipose tissue (WAT) and the liver during aging is mediated by accumulation of CD38+ immune cells. Inflammation increases CD38 and decreases NAD+. In addition, senescent cells and their secreted signals promote accumulation of CD38+ cells in WAT, and ablation of senescent cells or their secretory phenotype decreases CD38, partially reversing NAD+ decline. Finally, blocking the ecto-enzymatic activity of CD38 can increase NAD+ through a nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN)-dependent process. Our findings demonstrate that senescence-induced inflammation promotes accumulation of CD38 in immune cells that, through its ecto-enzymatic activity, decreases levels of NMN and NAD+.
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