Condensed title: SARM1 deficiency accelerates prion diseasesAbbreviations: CNS, central nervous system; dpi, days post inoculation; MyD88, myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88; NBH, non-infectious brain homogenates; PK, proteinase K; qRT-PCR, quantitative real-time PCR; RML6, Rocky Mountain Laboratories scrapie strain passage 6; SARM1, sterile α and HEAT/armadillo motifs containing protein; XAF1, X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis-associated factor 1.
| P a g eAbstract SARM1 (sterile α and HEAT/armadillo motifs containing protein) is a member of the MyD88 (myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88) family which mediates innate immune responses. Because inactivation of SARM1 prevents various forms of axonal degeneration, we tested whether it might protect against prion-induced neurotoxicity. Instead, we found that SARM1 deficiency exacerbates the progression of prion pathogenesis. This deleterious effect was not due to SARM1-dependent modulation of prion-induced neuroinflammation, since microglial activation, astrogliosis and brain cytokine profiles were not altered by SARM1 deficiency. Wholetranscriptome analyses indicated that SARM1 deficiency led to strong, selective overexpression of the pro-apoptotic gene XAF1 (X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis-associated factor 1). Consequently, the activity of proapoptotic caspases and neuronal death were enhanced in prion-infected SARM1 -/mice. These results point to an unexpected function of SARM1 as a regulator of prioninduced neurodegeneration, and suggest that XAF1 might constitute a therapeutic target in prion disease.