Tier 3 — preclinical

Nicotinamide mononucleotide reduces melanin production in aged melanocytes by inhibiting cAMP/Wnt signaling

Sofia Brito, Jin-Myoung Baek, Byungsun Cha, Hyojin Heo, Su-Hyun Lee, Lei Lei, So Young Jung, So Min Lee, Sang Hun Lee, Byeong-Mun Kwak, Sehyun Chae, Mi-Gi Lee, Bum-Ho Bin
Journal of Dermatological Science 2022 106(3):159-169

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 35610161
DOI
10.1016/j.jdermsci.2022.05.002
Funding
Supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea, Ajou University Research Fund, and the Korea Brain Research Institute Basic Research Program funded by the Korean Ministry of Science and ICT.
Competing interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Study snapshot

DesignIn vitro mechanistic study using primary human melanocytes, transcript/protein analyses and a reconstructed human-skin model containing aged melanocytes.
ModelYoung and aged human melanocytes and reconstituted human skin equivalents.
SampleCell and reconstructed-skin experiments; no human participants were enrolled.
InterventionNMN or NAD+ applied directly to melanocyte and reconstructed-skin experimental systems.
DurationLaboratory exposure periods varied by experiment.
EndpointsMelanin production; cAMP/Wnt signaling; Tyrosinase; TRP-1; TRP-2; Gene-expression profiling; SLC12A6 expression

What the study showed, in plain terms

Researchers exposed young and aged human melanocytes to NMN and found a marked reduction in melanin production in aged cells, with little apparent effect in young melanocytes.

The finding was reproduced in a reconstructed human-skin model and was linked to downregulation of cAMP/Wnt melanogenesis signaling and related proteins.

This is interesting skin-aging biology, but it is not a clinical trial showing that swallowing NMN lightens hyperpigmentation, improves wrinkles or makes human skin look younger.

Key findings

  • NMN reduced melanin production in aged melanocytes but not clearly in young melanocytes.
  • Melanin production also fell in a reconstructed human-skin model containing aged melanocytes.
  • cAMP/Wnt signaling and melanogenesis-related proteins were downregulated.
  • NAD+ produced similar signaling effects, supporting a connection with NAD metabolism.
  • SLC12A6 was proposed as an NMN transporter in melanocytes.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Directly treating cells or reconstructed skin with NMN is not equivalent to oral supplementation, where absorption, metabolism and tissue exposure differ substantially.

The study measured pigmentation mechanisms rather than clinical outcomes such as wrinkles, elasticity, hydration, photoaging or patient-rated appearance.

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Dr. Khaled Mahmoud, MBBChCritical Care Medicine, Longevity Science & Editorial Direction Dr. Amr Yasser, PhDCardiometabolic, Musculoskeletal, Gut & Bioavailability Dr. Abdulla Mostafa, PhDCellular Senescence, Neurological, Mitochondrial & Brain-Ageing Biology