Nicotinamide Riboside Helps Improve Symptoms in Lupus: Preclinical Findings

Synopsis

The protein PPP2R2A helps regulate the immune system, and in lupus-prone mice, T cells lacking this protein caused less autoimmunity and kidney damage. Without PPP2R2A, T cells produced more NAD+ through the nicotinamide riboside (NR) salvage pathway. In lab studies, NR reduced harmful Th17 cells and increased protective Treg cells by changing how the protein histone H1.2 interacts with genes, increasing Foxp3 and decreasing Il17a. Treating lupus-prone mice with NR improved disease symptoms and restored NAD-dependent enzyme activity in T cells from lupus patients, while lowering inflammatory molecules like IFN-γ and IL-17. These findings show that PPP2R2A controls NAD+ levels and drives autoimmunity, but NR can reduce inflammation and protect against lupus.

Journal

Cell Reports