The Pseudokinase MLKL and the Kinase RIPK3 Have Distinct Roles in Autoimmune Disease Caused by Loss of Death-Receptor-Induced Apoptosis

Immunity. 2016 Sep 20;45(3):513-526. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2016.07.016. Epub 2016 Aug 11.

Abstract

The kinases RIPK1 and RIPK3 and the pseudo-kinase MLKL have been identified as key regulators of the necroptotic cell death pathway, although a role for MLKL within the whole animal has not yet been established. Here, we have shown that MLKL deficiency rescued the embryonic lethality caused by loss of Caspase-8 or FADD. Casp8(-/-)Mlkl(-/-) and Fadd(-/-)Mlkl(-/-) mice were viable and fertile but rapidly developed severe lymphadenopathy, systemic autoimmune disease, and thrombocytopenia. These morbidities occurred more rapidly and with increased severity in Casp8(-/-)Mlkl(-/-) and Fadd(-/-)Mlkl(-/-) mice compared to Casp8(-/-)Ripk3(-/-) or Fadd(-/-)Ripk3(-/-) mice, respectively. These results demonstrate that MLKL is an essential effector of aberrant necroptosis in embryos caused by loss of Caspase-8 or FADD. Furthermore, they suggest that RIPK3 and/or MLKL may exert functions independently of necroptosis. It appears that non-necroptotic functions of RIPK3 contribute to the lymphadenopathy, autoimmunity, and excess cytokine production that occur when FADD or Caspase-8-mediated apoptosis is abrogated.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / physiology*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / metabolism*
  • Caspase 8 / metabolism
  • Cell Death / physiology*
  • Fas-Associated Death Domain Protein / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Necrosis / metabolism
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Fas-Associated Death Domain Protein
  • MLKL protein, mouse
  • Protein Kinases
  • Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Ripk3 protein, mouse
  • Caspase 8