Nampt/PBEF/Visfatin: a new player in beta cell physiology and in metabolic diseases?
NAD plays an essential role in a number of biological processes. A study in this issue of Cell Metabolism (Revollo et al., 2007b) demonstrates that nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt), also known as PBEF or visfatin, is a secreted enzyme and a source of systemic NAD. The authors show that Nampt-mediated NAD synthesis is necessary for beta cell function, providing fresh insights into the pathophysiology of metabolic diseases.
Tanaka
Tomohiro
T
Department of Pathology and Tumor Biology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Yoshida Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
Nabeshima
Yo-Ichi
Y
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009243:NAD / Q000096:biosynthesis; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism*
D009243:NAD; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase