The evidence NAD+ is a crucial molecule that has many functions in the body. It's deeply involved in how our mitochondria produce energy and helps our cells survive and stay healthy, including by repairing our DNA. The field of longevity research has homed in on NAD+ as a potential therapy because of evidence that our levels decline as we get older, which may also contribute to the risks of age-related diseases, says Dr. Shalender Bhasin, who directs the Boston Pepper Aging Research Center at Brigham and Women's Hospita
Research suggests that ancient viral DNA embedded in the human genome is playing a key role in early embryo development. Around 8% of our genome consists of endogenous retrovirus DNA - the remnants of ancient infections, but knowledge of their activity is limited. Now, a team shows that these sequences are required for the correct development of lab-derived embryo analogues, and for the switching on of human-specific genes.
Investigators led by Navdeep Chandel, PhD, have demonstrated that mitochondrial metabolism is crucial for T-cell proliferation and the prevention of T-cell exhaustion in cancer and chronic infection.