Reassessing the role of NAD as a prosurvival factor

The mechanisms regulating the choice of cell demise remain largely unknown. NAD(+), a key metabolite with well- known roles in cell metabolism, has been shown to counteract apoptosis while promoting necroptosis,a form of proinflammatory cell death. This observation identifies NAD(+) availability as an important parameter with contrasting roles in the regulation of distinct regulated cell death programs.