Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) exists as both intracellular NAMPT and extracellular NAMPT (eNAMPT) proteins. eNAMPT is secreted into the blood and functions as a cytokine/enzyme (cytozyme) that activates NF-κB signaling via ligation of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), further serving as a biomarker for inflammatory lung disorders such as acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) is a pleiotropic protein implicated in the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome, aging, cancer, coronary heart diseases, diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, and sepsis.
The objective of this study was to define the contribution of specific transcription factors, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and promoter demethylation to NAMPT transcriptional regulation in response to mechanical stress.
We previously demonstrated that pre-B-cell colony-enhancing factor (PBEF)/NAMPT, the proinflammatory cytokine encoded by NAMPT, participates in ARDS and VILI inflammatory syndromes.
In a sensitivity analysis limiting ALI cases to those who qualified for the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), rs61330082 in NAMPT was nominally associated with risk for ARDS.