Graphical Abstract Highlights d Declining NAD(P)H is associated with oocyte dysfunction during reproductive aging d Oocyte quality and fertility can be restored by NMN treatment in aged mice d Supplementation of embryo media with NMN improves developmental milestones d SIRT2 overexpression mimics benefits of NMN but is unlikely to mediate its effects SUMMARYReproductive aging in female mammals is an irreversible process associated with declining oocyte quality, which is the rate-limiting factor to fertility.Here, we show that this loss of oocyte quality with age accompanies declining levels of the prominent metabolic cofactor nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD + ). Treatment with the NAD + metabolic precursor nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) rejuvenates oocyte quality in aged animals, leading to restoration in fertility, and this can be recapitulated by transgenic overexpression of the NAD + -dependent deacylase SIRT2, though deletion of this enzyme does not impair oocyte quality. These benefits of NMN extend to the developing embryo, where supplementation reverses the adverse effect of maternal age on developmental milestones. These findings suggest that late-life restoration of NAD + levels represents an opportunity to rescue female reproductive function in mammals.

2Female infertility is a common and devastating condition with life-long health, emotional and 3 social consequences. There is currently no pharmacological therapy for preserving oocyte 4 quality during aging, which is the strongest risk factor for infertility. This leads to an age 5 dependent decline in natural conception and IVF success rates (1). Here, we show that this is 6 due in part to declining levels of the metabolic cofactor nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide 7 (NAD + ), and that restoring NAD + levels with its metabolic precursor nicotinamide 8 mononucleotide (NMN) rejuvenates oocyte quality and quantity in aged animals, leading to 9 improved fertility. These benefits extend to the developing embryo, where NMN 10 supplementation in embryo culture media following IVF enhances blastocyst formation in 11 older mice. The NAD + dependent deacylase SIRT2 is sufficient, but not essential, to 12 recapitulate the benefits of in vivo NMN treatment, and transgenic overexpression of SIRT2 13 maintains oocyte spindle assembly, accurate chromosome segregation, decreased oxidative 14 stress and overall fertility with ageing. Pharmacological elevation of NAD + may be an 15 effective, non-invasive strategy for restoring and maintaining female fertility during ageing, 16 and for improving the success of IVF.17 18 19 risks (4), is expensive and has a limited success rate. Repeated IVF failures are a substantial 1 source of emotional distress, and failure to conceive offspring is a substantial source of 2 relationship breakdown (5). 4The rate-limiting factors for successful pregnancies in IVF are oocyte quantity and quality, 5 both of which start to decline from the middle of the third decade of life in humans (1, 3). 6 Despite the enormous need, there are no clinically viable strategies to either preserve or 7 rejuvenate oocyte quantity or quality during ageing. There is a major need in reproductive 8 medicine for a non-invasive, pharmacological treatment to maintain or restore oocyte quantity 9 and/or quality during ageing. The effect of such a therapy would be to alleviate a rate-limiting 10 barrier to IVF success, or increase the chances of unaided conception, without having to resort 11 to IVF. 12 13The molecular basis for the decline in oocyte quality with advancing age is not clear but is 14 certainly multifactorial. The key factors thought to be involved include genome instability, 15 reduced mitochondrial bioenergetics, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), and impaired 16 fidelity during meiotic chromosome segregation due to disrupted spindle assembly and 17 compromised function of the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) surveillance system (6). This 18 latter hypothesis is evidenced by an increased rate of aneuploidy in embryos with increased 19

Background The interferon response can influence the primary and metastatic activity of breast cancers and can interact with checkpoint immunotherapy to modulate its effects. Using N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea mutagenesis, we found a mouse with an activating mutation in oligoadenylate synthetase 2 (Oas2), a sensor of viral double stranded RNA, that resulted in an interferon response and prevented lactation in otherwise healthy mice. Methods To determine if sole activation of Oas2 could alter the course of mammary cancer, we combined the Oas2 mutation with the MMTV-PyMT oncogene model of breast cancer and examined disease progression and the effects of checkpoint immunotherapy using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis with immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Results Oas2 mutation prevented pregnancy from increasing metastases to lung. Checkpoint immunotherapy with antibodies against programmed death-ligand 1 was more effective when the Oas2 mutation was present. Conclusions These data establish OAS2 as a therapeutic target for agents designed to reduce metastases and increase the effectiveness of checkpoint immunotherapy.