The role of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase in cerebral ischemia

DOI

10.2174/1568026615666150610142234

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

8-1-2015

Publication Title

Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry

Volume

15

Issue

21

First Page

2211

Last Page

2221

ISSN

15680266

Keywords

Adipokine, Brain ischemia, Intracerebroventricular, Mouse, Neuroprotection, Reperfusion injury, Stroke, Vascular biology

Abstract

As recombinant tissue plasminogen activator is the only drug approved for the clinical treatment of acute ischemic stroke, there is an urgent unmet need for novel stroke treatments. Endogenous defense mechanisms against stroke may hold the key to new therapies for stroke. A large number of studies suggest that nicotinamide phosphoribosyl-transferase (NAMPT) is an attractive candidate to improve post-stroke recovery. NAMPT is a multifunctional protein and plays important roles in immunity, metabolism, aging, inflammation, and stress responses. NAMPT exists in both the intracellular and extracellular space. As a rate-limiting enzyme, the intracellular form (iNAMPT) catalyzes the first step in the biosynthesis of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) from nicotinamide. iNAMPT closely regulates energy metabolism, enhancing the proliferation of endothelial cells, inhibiting apoptosis, regulating vascular tone, and stimulating autophagy in disease conditions such as stroke. Extracellular NAMPT (eNAMPT) is also known as visfatin (visceral fat–derived adipokine) and has pleotropic effects. It is widely believed that the diverse biological functions of eNAMPT are attributed to its NAMPT enzymatic activity. However, the effects of eNAMPT on ischemic injury are still controversial. Some authors have argued that eNAMPT exacerbates ischemic neuronal injury non-enzymatically by triggering the release of TNF-α from glial cells. In addition, NAMPT also participates in several pathophysiological processes such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, and ischemic heart disease. Thus, it remains unclear under what conditions NAMPT is beneficial or destructive. Recent work using in vitro and in vivo genetic/pharmacologic manipulations, including our own studies, has greatly improved our understanding of NAMPT. This review focuses on the multifaceted and complex roles of NAMPT under both normal and ischemic conditions.

Open Access

Green Accepted

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