The mechanisms that mediate the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) during glaucoma development are unknown. Williams et al. report that decreased levels of NAD+ and mitochondrial dysfunction are among the very first changes to occur in retinas of a mouse model of glaucoma. Orally administered vitamin B3 (also known as nicotinamide, which is a precursor of NAD+) and/or intravitreal injection of an adenovirus overexpressing NMNAT1 (a key NAD+-producing enzyme) protected mice from glaucomatous RGC degeneration when given prophylactically or therapeutically.
References
Williams, P. A. et al. Vitamin B3 modulates mitochondrial vulnerability and prevents glaucoma in aged mice. Science 355, 756–760 (2017)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Crunkhorn, S. Vitamin B3 blocks glaucoma. Nat Rev Drug Discov 16, 240 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd.2017.51
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd.2017.51