Vitamin B3 modulates mitochondrial vulnerability and prevents glaucoma in aged mice.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-17-2017
JAX Source
Science 2017 Feb 17; 355(6326):756-760
Volume
355
Issue
6326
First Page
756
Last Page
760
ISSN
1095-9203
PMID
28209901
Grant
EY11721, The Jackson Laboratory Fellowship
Abstract
Glaucomas are neurodegenerative diseases that cause vision loss, especially in the elderly. The mechanisms initiating glaucoma and driving neuronal vulnerability during normal aging are unknown. Studying glaucoma-prone mice, we show that mitochondrial abnormalities are an early driver of neuronal dysfunction, occurring before detectable degeneration. Retinal levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+), a key molecule in energy and redox metabolism) decrease with age and render aging neurons vulnerable to disease-related insults. Oral administration of the NAD(+) precursor nicotinamide (vitamin B3), and/or gene therapy (driving expression of Nmnat1, a key NAD(+)-producing enzyme), was protective both prophylactically and as an intervention. At the highest dose tested, 93% of eyes did not develop glaucoma. This supports therapeutic use of vitamin B3 in glaucoma and potentially other age-related neurodegenerations. Science 2017 Feb 17; 355(6326):756-760.
Recommended Citation
Williams PA,
Harder JM,
Foxworth N,
Cochran K,
Philip VM,
Porciatti V,
Smithies O,
John S.
Vitamin B3 modulates mitochondrial vulnerability and prevents glaucoma in aged mice. Science 2017 Feb 17; 355(6326):756-760
Comments
Kelly E. Cochran was a summer student at The Jackson Laboratory in 2015.