Unleashing the Power of NMN to Combat Cancer and Boost Immunity

NMN enhances immune function to battle cancer

Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) is crucial for energy generation and aids in the production of NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), a vital coenzyme for cellular energy conversion. Maintaining optimal NAD+ levels is essential for energy production and DNA repair processes. NAD+ participates in countless redox enzymatic reactions within the human body. By elevating NAD+ levels, NMN contributes to DNA repair, damaged cell restoration, cell mutation reduction, and cancer prevention. NAD+ enables enzymes to facilitate vital biological processes and generate products necessary for our bodies to function and survive, making it essential for each cell to have sufficient energy.

The importance of our immune system

Our immune system serves as the body’s primary line of defense against foreign invaders. Cells, tissues, and organs collaborate to provide overall protection as part of the immune system. White blood cells, particularly leukocytes, are crucial. Two basic types of these cells work together to locate and eliminate organisms responsible for infections.

Ordinarily, the number and growth of all our cells are tightly regulated. However, when control signals within a cell are disrupted, the cell’s life cycle alters, and it starts dividing uncontrollably. The cell multiplies without restraint, resulting in an accumulation of abnormal cells that form a mass known as a “tumor.”

NMN’s impact on cancer

Numerous studies have revealed that NMN significantly inhibits cancer cell growth and extends cell longevity. Consequently, researchers are examining the effects of NMN treatment on CAR-T (Chimeric antigen receptor T) cell therapy.

Chimeric antigen receptor T cells are genetically engineered T cells that produce an artificial T cell receptor for use in immunotherapy. They are designed to provide T cells with the ability to target specific proteins. Receptors are chimeric as they combine antigen binding and T cell activation functions into one receptor. When NMN is administered, it has shown improvements in various age-related conditions, such as neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and metabolic disorders.

Key discoveries

There are two types of T cells: stem memory T cells (TSCM) and memory T cells (Tcm). Both play a critical role in maintaining memory and producing inflammatory cytokines to eliminate foreign cells. Thus, increasing their proportion in CAR-T cells is essential for immune response. In this study, researchers investigated the effects of NMN on the longevity of CD19 CAR-T lymphocytes and the NADH/NAD+ ratio, Sirt1 activation, and related genes.

To determine whether NMN treatment impacts CAR-T cells, researchers examined the proliferation of CAR-T cells in the presence of NMN and their ability to kill target cells. CD19 CAR-T cells were treated with NMN alongside NALM-6 cells in culture. The results revealed that NMN-treated cells exhibited significantly greater proliferation than CD19 CAR-T cells without NMN treatment. Furthermore, NMN-treated cells were 180 times more numerous, while non-NMN-treated CD19 CAR-T cells perished. This indicates that NMN can enhance antitumor activity.

NMN treatment also increased the TSCM/Tcm ratio and delayed CAR-T cell aging. Researchers assessed the activity of telomerase, an enzyme that safeguards chromosome ends. Telomerase activity is crucial in T cell division and declines during T cell aging, differentiation, and disease. Low telomerase activity can cause CAR-T cells to die and become senescent. After NMN treatment, telomerase activity increased, and the number of senescent CD19 CAR-T cells significantly decreased. Consequently, NMN appears to positively influence CD19 CAR-T cell longevity.

NMN-treated CD19 CAR-T cells suppress tumor activity in mice

The next finding explored whether NMN-treated cells could effectively inhibit tumor growth in mice. Initially, mice were injected with NALM-6 leukemia cells to establish a cancer model. Subsequently, NMN-treated CD19 CAR-T cells were introduced. The NMN treatment demonstrated a reduction in tumor growth and volume, suggesting that NMN is a promising approach for enhancing CD19 CAR-T cell longevity based on this finding.

NMN’s effect on Sirt1 genes

Sirt1 gene activation is associated with cell longevity. NMN can improve CD19 CAR-T cell longevity by upregulating Sirt1. Additionally, NMN has a positive impact on inflammation in immunotherapy. This study reveals that NMN treatments can lower the production of interleukins, such as IL-6.

This research emphasizes the effects of NMN on CAR-T cells. CAR-T cell therapy has the potential to be an effective immunotherapy treatment for various human cancers. Furthermore, this study shows that NMN treatment enhances CAR-T cell properties. Moreover, short telomeres are linked to age-related diseases. In this study, longer telomere lengths were observed in CD19 CAR-T cells treated with NMN. As we age, our immune system weakens, making our bodies more susceptible to diseases. Thus, boosting our NAD+ levels with NMN may serve as an effective preventative measure against cancer growth.