Mitophagy suppresses motor neuron necroptotic mitochondrial damage and alleviates necroptosis that converges to SARM1 in acrylamide‐induced dying‐back neuropathy

Abstract Acrylamide (ACR), a common industrial ingredient that is also found in many foodstuffs, induces dying‐back neuropathy in humans and animals. However, the mechanisms remain poorly understood. Sterile alpha and toll/interleukin 1 receptor motif‐containing protein 1 (SARM1) is the central determinant of axonal degeneration and has crosstalk with different cell death programs to determine neuronal survival. Herein, we illustrated the role of SARM1 in ACR‐induced dying‐back neuropathy. We further demonstrated the upstream programmed cell death mechanism of this SARM1‐dependent process. Spinal cord motor neurons that were induced to overexpress SARM1 underwent necroptosis rather than apoptosis in ACR neuropathy. Mechanically, non‐canonical necroptotic pathways mediated mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and mitochondrial fission. What's more, the final executioner of necroptosis, phosphorylation‐activated mixed lineage kinase domain‐like protein (MLKL), aggregated in mitochondrial fractions. Rapamycin intervention removed the impaired mitochondria, inhibited necroptosis for axon maintenance and neuronal survival, and alleviated ACR neuropathy. Our work clarified the functional links among mitophagy, necroptosis, and SARM1‐dependent axonal destruction during ACR intoxication, providing novel therapeutic targets for dying‐back neuropathies. image