--- title: "Evidence: inhibits CD38, raises NAD/Sirt3" description: "Inhibition of CD38 with apigenin can reduce diabetic kidney disease by improving the NAD/NADH ratio and Sirt3 activity." url: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s114.md" canonical: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s114.html" html: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s114.html" type: "study" study_key: "s114" journal: "Aging" year: 2020 pmid: "32507768" doi: "10.18632/aging.103410" citations: 1 updated: 2026-09-02 author: "Gabriel Radu, DO" author_credentials: "Physiatrist (PM&R). NY medical license 275110. NPI 1376861765." publisher: "Magellan Longevity" content_format: "markdown" --- # Evidence: inhibits CD38, raises NAD/Sirt3 [Home](https://magellanlongevity.com/) › [Research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) › Evidence: inhibits CD38, raises NAD/Sirt3 **HTML version:** https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s114.html · **In the Magellan app:** https://magellanlongevity.com/#/study/s114 ## Citation | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Journal | Aging | | Year | 2020 | | PMID | [32507768](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32507768/) | | DOI | [10.18632/aging.103410](https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.103410) | | Study key | s114 | ## Takeaway Inhibition of CD38 with apigenin can reduce diabetic kidney disease by improving the NAD/NADH ratio and Sirt3 activity. ## The question What role does CD38 play in the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and can its inhibition mitigate renal injuries? ## Hypothesis The researchers hypothesized that CD38 contributes to DKD pathogenesis by decreasing the NAD/NADH ratio and Sirt3 activity, and that inhibiting CD38 with apigenin would reduce renal injuries. ## Methods The study used Zucker diabetic fatty rats to investigate the effects of the CD38 inhibitor apigenin on renal injuries, CD38 expression, NAD/NADH ratio, and Sirt3 activity. Additionally, renal proximal tubular HK-2 cells cultured under high-glucose conditions were used to examine the impact of CD38 inhibition or knockdown on NAD/NADH ratio and Sirt3 activity. ## Results Apigenin significantly reduced renal injuries, including tubulointerstitial fibrosis, tubular cell damage, and pro-inflammatory gene expression in diabetic rats. Apigenin also down-regulated CD38 expression and increased the intracellular NAD/NADH ratio and Sirt3-mediated mitochondrial antioxidative enzyme activity in the kidneys of diabetic rats. In HK-2 cells, both apigenin and CD38 knockdown increased the NAD/NADH ratio and Sirt3 activity under high-glucose conditions. ## Conclusion CD38 plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of DKD by inhibiting Sirt3 activity and increasing mitochondrial oxidative stress in renal tubular cells. Inhibition of CD38 with apigenin can mitigate these effects and reduce renal injuries. ## Limitations The abstract does not explicitly state any limitations of the study. ## Verbatim from the abstract > CD38 inhibition by apigenin restored the intracellular NAD ratio and Sirt3 activity ## Where this study is used on Magellan This paper is one of the citations behind the evidence grade on the pages below. Grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of affiliate commissions. | Compound or device | Evidence grade | Graded pages | | --- | --- | --- | | Apigenin Capsules | Emerging evidence | [Apigenin Capsules](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/114.md) | ## Reference 1. **Evidence: inhibits CD38, raises NAD/Sirt3** Aging 2020 · [PMID 32507768](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32507768/) · [DOI 10.18632/aging.103410](https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.103410) > CD38 inhibition by apigenin restored the intracellular NAD ratio and Sirt3 activity ## Structured data ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"MedicalWebPage","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s114.html#page","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s114.html","name":"Evidence: inhibits CD38, raises NAD/Sirt3","description":"Inhibition of CD38 with apigenin can reduce diabetic kidney disease by improving the NAD/NADH ratio and Sirt3 activity.","inLanguage":"en","isPartOf":{"@type":"WebSite","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Gabriel Radu, DO","jobTitle":"Physiatrist (PM&R)","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NPI","value":"1376861765"},{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NY medical license","value":"275110"}]},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"encoding":{"@type":"MediaObject","encodingFormat":"text/markdown","contentUrl":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s114.md"},"dateModified":"2026-09-02"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research map","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Evidence: inhibits CD38, raises NAD/Sirt3","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s114.html"}]},{"@type":"ScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s114.html#study","name":"Evidence: inhibits CD38, raises NAD/Sirt3","headline":"Evidence: inhibits CD38, raises NAD/Sirt3","datePublished":"2020","isPartOf":{"@type":"Periodical","name":"Aging"},"identifier":"PMID:32507768","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32507768/","sameAs":"https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.103410","abstract":"Inhibition of CD38 with apigenin can reduce diabetic kidney disease by improving the NAD/NADH ratio and Sirt3 activity."}]} ``` ## Related on Magellan Longevity - [Apigenin Capsules](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/114.md) — product graded on this and related evidence - [Flavonoid apigenin is an inhibitor of the NAD+ ase CD38: implications for cellular NAD+…](https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d23172919.md) - [Inhibition of CD38 and nicotinamide riboside ameliorate neuroinflammation by increasing…](https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d33871064.md) - [Longevity research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) - [Evidence-based longevity supplements](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-supplements.md) ## Scope and disclosures Educational information, not medical advice. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your physician before starting any supplement or device, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication. Editorial firewall: evidence grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of any affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, Magellan Longevity earns from qualifying purchases. Reviewed for accuracy by a board-certified physician (DO).