Figure 2.

eNAMPT and human disease. Schematic representation of the human conditions in which eNAMPT was proposed to play a role. In all of these conditions, elevated eNAMPT levels were observed in patients’ sera and other bodily fluids, such as synovial fluid in rheumatoid arthritis or bronchoalveolar lavage in lung injury. In addition, preclinical studies pinpointed the mechanisms through which eNAMPT is likely to contribute to the pathophysiology of these conditions, mostly via pleiotropic effects on metabolism, inflammation, and immunity as a DAMP/adipocytokine/pro-angiogenic factor. For at least some of these diseases, neutralizing or reducing eNAMPT levels by monoclonal antibodies or by “molecular glues” (e.g., PROTACs), respectively, was shown to have therapeutic activity in preclinical models.