Mid Sweden University

Introduction

Expression of Nicotinamide (NA) N-methyltransferase (NNMT), the enzyme responsible for the methylation of NA to methylnicotinamide (MNA), is reduced in obese and diabetic mice. In rodent liver, NNMT activity and plasma MNA levels are increased after 90min of swimming.

NNMT knockdown in mice white adipose tissue increases energy expenditure, suggesting a protective role against diet-induced obesity and type-2 diabetes. The role that NNMT plays in human metabolism remains unknown. Thus, the aims of the study were 1) to determine in human skeletal muscle (sm) whether NNMT is upregulated by prolonged exercise and 2) to ascertain whether the expression of NNMT in sm is influenced by severe energy deficit.

Methods

Fifteen overweight men underwent to 4 days of caloric restriction (CR) (0.8 g/kg BW/day) in combination with prolonged exercise (PE) (8h walking + 45min single-arm cranking/day). Three sm biopsies (exercised/non exercised arm and one leg) were obtained before (PRE), after (PE+CR) and following 3 days of control diet (isoenergetic) and reduced exercise (CD) to measure the expression of key metabolic genes (e.g. PDK4, CPT2, PFKFB3, NNMT) (microarray), NNMT protein expression (WB) and circulating plasma MNA levels (LC-MS). Maximal fat oxidation (MFO) (indirect calorimetry) and body composition (DEXA) were measured. ANOVA repeated-measures was used.

Results

During PE+CR the energy deficit was 5000 kcal/d reducing fat mass by 2.8 (PE+CR) and 3.8 kg (CD). MFO was increased. CPT2, PDK4, PFKFB3 genes (CHO-to-fat metabolic shift) were differentially expressed (FDR<5%) in at least one sm. Compared to PRE, after CD, NNMT gene expression was upregulated in all sm (~3-5 fold). Protein NNMT increased ~13-fold (p<0.001), ~9-fold (p<0.01) and ~5-fold (p<0.001) for non-exercised and exercised arm (45min/day) and leg (8h/day), respectively. Circulating levels of MNA were augmented two-fold. The increase in NNMT expression from PRE to CD was associated with the increase in MFO (r=0.37, p=0.01,n=45).

Discussion

This findings reveal that NNMT is upregulated in human sm in response to a severe energy deficit, with a simultaneous increase of MNA plasma levels. However, this response was attenuated in the exercised sm. NNMT may have a role in facilitating fat oxidation. Caloric restriction elicits increased sirtuins expression and activity, coupled with the NAD+ breakdown into NA. Overexpression of NNMT probably prevents accumulation of NA, which would otherwise inhibit the sirtuins. Our data suggest sm as a plausible source of MNA, which may act as a myokine with a role in the adaptation to starvation.