We utilize the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) model of Parkinson’s disease, in which cell death can be selectively induced in dopaminergic neurons in vivo, to show that induction of neuronal cell death results in RIPK3-dependent astrocyte activation, which in turn exacerbates ongoing neurodegeneration. The gene discussed is RIPK3; the disease is Parkinson disease.