NAD(+)-Dependent Activation of Sirt1 Corrects the Phenotype in a Mouse Model of Mitochondrial Disease

Summary Mitochondrial disorders are highly heterogeneous conditions characterized by defects of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Pharmacological activation of mitochondrial biogenesis has been proposed as an effective means to correct the biochemical defects and ameliorate the clinical phenotype in these severely disabling, often fatal, disorders. Pathways related to mitochondrial biogenesis are targets of Sirtuin1, a NAD+-dependent protein deacetylase. As NAD+ boosts the activity of Sirtuin1 and other sirtuins, intracellular levels of NAD+ play a key role in the homeostatic control of mitochondrial function by the metabolic status of the cell. We show here that supplementation with nicotinamide riboside, a natural NAD+ precursor, or reduction of NAD+ consumption by inhibiting the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases, leads to marked improvement of the respiratory chain defect and exercise intolerance of the Sco2 knockout/knockin mouse, a mitochondrial disease model characterized by impaired cytochrome c oxidase biogenesis. This strategy is potentially translatable into therapy of mitochondrial disorders in humans.
Graphical Abstract
Highlights • NAD+ is a substrate activator of Sirtuin 1, a key player of mitochondrial biogenesis • Parp1 inhibitors and nicotinamide riboside increase the NAD+ content in tissues • These compounds improve the phenotype of a mitochondrial disease mouse model • These are potential therapies for human mitochondrial disorders
Human mitochondrial disorders are heterogenous in nature and are crippling. Cerutti et al. correct the respiratory chain defect and exercise intolerance of the Sco2 knockout/knockin model through pharmacological activation of Sirt1-dependent mitochondrial biogenesis. Their results highlight the concept of a potential general therapeutic strategy in genetically diverse mitochondrial disorders.