NAMPT and carotid atherosclerosis: Extracellular NAMPT also is involved in NAD formation, and/or acts as a cytokine possessing both pro-and anti-inflammatory properties, possibly mainly the first, and with the ability to mediate Mɸ1 differentiation [21, 22] Increased circulating NAMPT levels have been reported in subjects with metabolic dysfunction such as in diabetes type 2 with additionally advanced carotid atherosclerosis [23], and was also associated with atherogenic inflammatory markers and endothelial dysfunction [24].