Studies presented here show that cellular NAD, which we hypothesize to be t
he relevant biomarker of niacin status, is significantly lower in humans th
an in the commonly studied animal models of carcinogenesis. We show that ni
cotinamide and the resulting cellular NAD concentration modulate expression
of the tumor suppressor protein, p53, in human breast, skin, and lung cell
s. Studies to determine the optimal NAD concentrations for responding to DN
A damage in breast epithelial cells reveal that DNA damage appears to stimu
late NAD biosynthesis and that recovery from DNA damage occurs several hour
s earlier in the presence of higher NAD or in cells undergoing active NAD b
iosynthesis. Finally, analyses of normal human skin tissue from individuals
diagnosed with actinic keratoses or squamous cell carcinomas show that NAD
content of the skin is inversely correlated with the malignant phenotype.
Since NAD is important in modulating ADP-ribose polymer metabolism, cyclic
ADP-ribose synthesis. and stress response proteins, such as p53, following
DNA damage, understanding how NAD metabolism is regulated in the human has
important implications in developing both prevention and treatment strategi
es in carcinogenesis.