In this report, Skokowa et al. delineate a new molecular pathway by which synthesis of the metabolite NAD+ through the action of the enzyme NAMPT promotes myeloid cell differentiation. The potential clinical relevance of this pathway was demonstrated by showing that administration of vitamin B3, a precursor to NAD+, increases neutrophil counts in healthy individuals, and that defective myeloid cell differentiation in individuals with congenital neutropenia can be rescued in vitro by administration of NAMPT.
- Julia Skokowa
- Dan Lan
- Karl Welte