Health News & Notes

Coenzyme May Support Cell Defense

(NAPSI)—As scientists are learning more about COVID-19 and how it affects the body, they are also looking for ways to support the innate immune response to infection. While more research is needed, preclinical studies lay a foundation of science to inform future human studies. 



A recently published preclinical study focused on levels of a coenzyme called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) in cells and animal tissue infected with coronavirus, specifically SARS-CoV-2 and lung tissue from a COVID-19 cadaver. The results revealed that NAD+ may play a key role in cellular defense mechanisms.



The researchers observed how SARS-CoV-2 impacted cellular NAD+ levels and how the virus triggered the infected cells to seek out a cellular nutrient called nicotinamide riboside (NR) in an attempt to replenish the NAD+ levels that had dropped due to infection.



In a separate set of experiments, the researchers provided NR to coronavirus infected mouse cells and showed that viral replication was significantly reduced compared to a control.



The researchers concluded that coronaviruses disturb the NAD+ system, and increasing cellular NAD+ pools with NR may aid cells’ defense during infection.



What does it mean?



These scientists, from the University of Iowa, University of Kansas, and Oregon Health & Science University, will continue to study how cells use NAD+ while mounting a defense against coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19.



As the science moves forward on COVID-19 and NAD+, additional studies will need to be done to understand the role of NAD+ in immune stress in humans.



Learn More



For more information and to read about the research, visit www.about NAD.com.