Adipose tissue as a source of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase and homocysteine.

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Citation

Riederer M, Erwa W, Zimmermann R, Frank S, Zechner R

Adipose tissue as a source of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase and homocysteine.

Atherosclerosis. 2009 Jun;204(2):412-7. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2008.09.015. Epub 2008 Sep 27.

PubMed ID
18996527 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) catalyses the conversion of nicotinamide to 1-methylnicotinamide and plays an important role in hepatic detoxification reactions. Here we show that, in addition to the liver, 3T3-L1 adipocytes as well as human and murine adipose tissue explants express high amounts of enzymatically active NNMT. NNMT mRNA levels and enzyme activity increased in 3T3-L1 cells in a differentiation-dependent manner. Homocysteine, the atherogenic product of the NNMT-catalyzed reaction, was secreted from 3T3-L1 cells or adipose tissue cultures. Homocysteine release increased during 3T3-L1 differentiation and was reduced when adipose tissue was treated with the NNMT inhibitor 1-methylnicotinamide. Nicotinic acid (NA), a widely used drug to lower elevated plasma lipid levels, induced NNMT enzyme activity in white adipose tissue of mice. In tissue culture nicotinamide treatment led to an increase in adipose tissue homocysteine secretion. These data support the concept that adipose tissue NNMT contributes to the increased plasma homocysteine levels in patients treated with NA.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Targets
DrugTargetKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
NiacinNicotinamide N-methyltransferaseProteinHumans
Yes
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