HIV-INFECTION DECREASES INTRACELLULAR NICOTINAMIDE ADENINE-DINUCLEOTIDE [NAD]

We report that HIV-1 infection of human cells in vitro leads to signif icant decreases in the intracellular concentration of NAD. This decrea se varies with viral load and HIV strain. In tissue culture, cells lac king CD4 receptors or cells incubated with heat inactivated virus do n ot demonstrate this decrease in NAD. Nicotinamide, the amide form of t he vitamin niacin, increases intracellular NAD levels in uninfected ce lls as expected. Our data demonstrate that nicotinamide also maintains increased intracellular NAD concentrations in HIV infected cells. We conclude that HIV induces a state of intracellular pellagra which is r eversed by the administration of nicotinamide. (C) 1995 Academic Press , Inc.