NAD + activates renal metabolism and protects from chronic kidney disease in a model of Alport syndrome

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with renal metabolic disturbances, including impaired fatty acid oxidation (FAO). Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD ⁺ ) is a small molecule that participates in hundreds of metabolism-related reactions. NAD ⁺ levels are decreased in CKD, and NAD ⁺ supplementation is protective. However, both the mechanism of how NAD ⁺ supplementation protects from CKD, as well as the cell types involved, are poorly understood. Using a mouse model of Alport syndrome, we show that nicotinamide riboside (NR), an NAD ⁺ precursor, stimulates renal peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha signaling and restores FAO in the proximal tubules, thereby protecting from CKD in both sexes. Bulk RNA-sequencing shows that renal metabolic pathways are impaired in Alport mice and activated by NR in both sexes. These transcriptional changes are confirmed by orthogonal imaging techniques and biochemical assays. Single nuclei RNA-sequencing and spatial transcriptomics, both the first of their kind from Alport mice, show that NAD ⁺ supplementation restores FAO in proximal tubule cells. Finally, we also report, for the first time, sex differences at the transcriptional level in this Alport model. In summary, we identify a nephroprotective mechanism of NAD ⁺ supplementation in CKD, and we demonstrate that the proximal tubule cells substantially contribute to this benefit.