NAD+ metabolism governs proinflammatory senescence secretome

Cellular senescence is a stable cell growth arrest that is implicated in tissue aging and cancer. Senescent cells are characterized by an upregulation of proinflammatory and immunosuppressive cytokines and chemokines, which is termed as senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). NAD+ metabolism plays a critical role in both tissue aging and cancer. However, the role of NAD+ metabolism in regulating the SASP is not well understood. Here we show that nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), the rate-limiting enzyme of the NAD+ salvage pathway, governs the strengths of proinflammatory SASP during senescence. In contrast to downregulation of NAMPT during replicative senescence, NAMPT is upregulated during oncogene-induced senescence. NAMPT selectively regulates proinflammatory, but not immunosuppressive, SASP. NAMPT is regulated by HMGA1 through a distal enhancer element during senescence. HMGA1/NAMPT/NAD+ signaling axis promotes proinflammatory SASP through enhancing glycolysis and mitochondria respiration. Mechanistically, HMGA1/NAMPT promotes proinflammatory SASP through NAD+-mediated suppression of AMPK kinase, which suppresses p53-mediated inhibition of p38MAPK to enhance NFb activity. SASP regulation by NAD+ metabolism is independent of senescence-associated cell growth arrest. An increase in NAD+ levels is sufficient to convert SASP from low to high levels during replicative senescence. Together, we conclude that NAD+ metabolism governs the strengths of proinflammatory SASP. Given the tumor promoting effects of proinflammatory SASP, our results suggest that anti-ageing dietary NAD+ augmentation should be administered with precision.