A Review of the Regulatory Role of Nicotinamide on Pro- and Anti-apoptotic Proteins in Neuronal Cells

Numerous studies have shown that nicotinamide can prevent cell death via both necrosis and apoptosis. DNA fragmentation, NAD, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, apoptosis inducing factors, tumor necrosis factors, p53, caspases, inhibitor of apoptosis proteins and other factors are important in the action of nicotinamide. In this review, the regulatory effect of nicotinamide on individual pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins in neuronal cells have been delineated with a view to present a central molecular mechanism by which nicotinamide prevents apoptosis in the brain.