1 micro-molar NAD can elicit death in mice T cells. This concentration is 20 times lower than NAD concentration in human plasma. Additionally, NAD is important for T cell survival, which is at odds with this possible NAD "toxicity".
This is a very insightful question...I cannot yet find any data linking NAD to naive or resting T cell death in humans, but I would think that it is possible if humans have the "right" ART...Recall the B6 mice are resistant to this type of death, so not all mouse strains experience this phenomenon...
The most exciting thing about this phenomenon is that it is the only described mechanism of resting T cell death...We know of now other way to eliminate naive T cell repertoires...except via strong costimulation-deficient activation...
As for cell survival versus death conundrum, we have seen examples of other molecules that can both induce survival and death depending on the cell activation state and dose...For example, TNF can be a prosurvival molecule for T cells and can induce their death...So is TCR activation...And also Caspase 8...An enzyme that activates AICD, and inhibits necroptosis...and is important for T cell activation...
Please find attached this review which I think may be of value...
Article Extracellular NAD and ATP: Partners in immune cell modulation