Nicotinamide Riboside Enhances Wound Healing and Reverses Age-Related Declines in Skin Repair: Preclinical Evidence

Synopsis

The skin repairs itself through activation and growth of keratinocyte stem cells, but aging slows this process by unclear mechanisms. This study investigated how the metabolic regulator Pgc-1α affects skin repair in aged mice and mice lacking Pgc-1α specifically in the skin. Both aging and Pgc-1α loss led to slower wound healing, more inflammation, and increased skin cell differentiation, with less cell growth. These effects were linked to lower NAD+ levels, shorter telomeres, and increased stress signaling via p53 and p21 proteins. Importantly, boosting NAD+ levels via nicotinamide riboside helped restore skin growth in old mice. This shows that Pgc-1α supports skin repair by regulating NAD+ and controlling stress responses, and NAD+ dysfunction contributes to age-related delays in wound healing.

Journal

Molecular Metabolism