The paper demonstrates that SARM1 is essential for PARP1-driven parthanatos—mediating mitochondrial depolarization, AIF nuclear translocation, and neuronal death—and that SARM1 inhibition robustly protects against MPP+ dopaminergic toxicity and NMDA excitotoxicity.

By placing SARM1 at the intersection of NAD+ metabolism, PARP1-mediated DNA damage responses, and excitotoxic/MPP+-induced dopaminergic death, the study identifies a druggable, translationally relevant target with strong potential for Parkinson's neuroprotection strategies.

The nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) hydrolase sterile alpha and Toll/interleukin-1 receptor motif-containing 1 (SARM1) is the central executioner of pathological axon degeneration and is allosterically activated by an increased nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN)/NAD+ ratio. DNA damage induces NAD+ loss and an increased NMN/NAD+ ratio by hyperactivating poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1), which triggers the parthanatos cell death pathway. Multiple mechanistically distinct DNA-damaging agents activate SARM1 and induce axon degeneration following PARP1 activation. Remarkably, SARM1 is required for key steps downstream of hyperactivated PARP1, which are pathognomonic of parthanatos, including mitochondrial depolarization, nuclear translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), and cell death. Hence, SARM1 is an essential component of neuronal parthanatos. Moreover, complex neurodegenerative stimuli whose mechanisms include activation of parthanatos, such as 1-methyl-4-phenyl-pyridinium (MPP+) dopaminergic neuron toxicity and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) excitotoxicity, are potently protected by SARM1 inhibition. These findings place SARM1 at the nexus of multiple mechanisms driving neuronal cell death, thereby greatly expanding the potential clinical utility of SARM1 inhibitors beyond diseases of axon loss.