Research on niacin and macrophage

• Niacin Reverses Migratory Macrophage Foam Cell Arrest Mediated by oxLDL In Vitro

  Oxidized Low Density Cholesterol, oxLDL induced inhibition of macrophage migration may be reversed by Niacin, which explains part of Niacin's atheroprotective effects on cardiovascular disease independent of its effects on plasma lipids. Macrophage foam cells are a type of macrophage that localize to fatty deposits on blood vessel walls. Niacin also inhibited the formation of peroxynitrite (which is a powerful oxidant exhibiting a wide array of tissue damaging effects)

• Niacin-mediated rejuvenation of macrophage/microglia enhances remyelination of the aging central nervous system

  Niacin via its ability to enhance macrophage and microglia is great for repairing (myelin) sheaths that protect nerve fibers, which deteriorate in diseases like multiple sclerosis.

• Control of brain tumor growth by reactivating myeloid cells with niacin

  Niacin treatment of mice bearing intracranial brain tumor initiative cells increased macrophage representation within the tumor, reduced tumor size, and prolonged survival.

• Activated niacin receptor HCA2 inhibits chemoattractant-mediated macrophage migration via Gβγ/PKC/ERK1/2 pathway and heterologous receptor desensitization

  GPR109A (aka HCA2) is highly expressed in immune cells and together with niacin seems to inhibit proinflammatory aspects of immune cell activity.

• Niacin and its metabolites as master regulators of macrophage activation

  The focus is on how niacin and its metabolites enable white blood cells to react to a changing microenvironment (macrophage plasticity). It also discusses the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory aspects of niacin.