Protective effect of nicotinamide against poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1-mediated astrocyte death depends on its transporter-mediated uptake

These findings suggest that nicotinamide has a protective effect against PARP-1-induced astrocyte death and that its transporter-mediated uptake, which is extracellular pH-sensitive and common to N-methylnicotinamide, is critical for prevention of PARP-1-triggered cell death.