Species-independent contribution of ZBP1/DAI/DLM-1-triggered necroptosis in host defense against HSV1

ZBP1 condensate formation synergizes Z-NAs recognition and signal transduction

Z-DNA binding protein 1 (ZBP1) is a crucial player in the intracellular recognition of Z-form nucleic acids (Z-NAs) through its Zαβ domain, initiating downstream interactions with RIPK1 and RIPK3 via RHIM domains. This engagement leads to the assembly of PANoptosomes, ultimately inducing programmed cell death to curb pathogen dissemination. How Zαβ and RHIM domain cooperate to trigger Z-NAs recognition and signal transduction remains unclear. Here, we show that ZBP1 condensate formation facilitates Z-NAs binding and antiviral signal transduction. The ZBP1 Zαβ dimerizes in a concentration-dependent manner, forming characteristic condensates in solutions evidenced by DLS and SAXS methods. ZBP1 exhibits a binding preference for 10-bp length CG (10CG) DNA and Z-RNA ligand, which in turn enhanced Zαβ dimerization, expediting the formation of droplet condensates in vitro and amyloid-like puncta in cells. Subsequent investigations reveal that Zαβ could form condensates with liquid-liquid phase separation property upon HSV and IAV infections, while full-length ZBP1 forms amyloid-like puncta with or without infections. Furthermore, ZBP1 RHIM domains show typical amyloidal fibril characterizations and cross-polymerize with RIPK1 depending on the core motif of 206IQIG209, while mutated ZBP1 could impede necroptosis and antiviral immunity in HT-29 cells. Thus, ZBP1 condensate formation facilitates the recognition of viral Z-NAs and activation of downstream signal transduction via synergic action of different domains, revealing its elaborated mechanism in innate immunity.

ZBP1 causes inflammation by inducing RIPK3-mediated necroptosis and RIPK1 kinase activity-independent apoptosis

Z-DNA binding protein 1 (ZBP1) has important functions in anti-viral immunity and in the regulation of inflammatory responses. ZBP1 induces necroptosis by directly engaging and activating RIPK3, however, the mechanisms by which ZBP1 induces inflammation and in particular the role of RIPK1 and the contribution of cell death-independent signaling remain elusive. Here we show that ZBP1 causes skin inflammation by inducing RIPK3-mediated necroptosis and RIPK1-caspase-8-mediated apoptosis in keratinocytes. ZBP1 induced TNFR1-independent skin inflammation in mice with epidermis-specific ablation of FADD by triggering keratinocyte necroptosis. Moreover, transgenic expression of C-terminally truncated constitutively active ZBP1 (ZBP1ca) in mouse epidermis caused skin inflammation that was only partially inhibited by abrogation of RIPK3-MLKL-dependent necroptosis and fully prevented by combined deficiency in MLKL and caspase-8. Importantly, ZBP1ca induced caspase-8-mediated skin inflammation by RHIM-dependent but kinase activity-independent RIPK1 signaling. Furthermore, ZBP1ca-induced inflammatory cytokine production in the skin was completely prevented by combined inhibition of apoptosis and necroptosis arguing against a cell death-independent pro-inflammatory function of ZBP1. Collectively, these results showed that ZBP1 induces inflammation by activating necroptosis and RIPK1 kinase activity-independent apoptosis.

Z-DNA binding protein 1 orchestrates innate immunity and inflammatory cell death

Innate immunity is not only the first line of host defense against microbial infections but is also crucial for the host responses against a variety of noxious stimuli. Z-DNA binding protein 1 (ZBP1) is a cytosolic nucleic acid sensor that can induce inflammatory cell death in both immune and nonimmune cells upon sensing of incursive virus-derived Z-form nucleic acids and self-nucleic acids via its Zα domain. Mechanistically, aberrantly expressed or activated ZBP1 induced by pathogens or noxious stimuli enables recruitment of TANK binding kinase 1 (TBK1), interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) and RIPK3 to drive type I interferon (IFN-I) responses and activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling. Meanwhile, ZBP1 promotes the assembly of ZBP1- and absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2)-PANoptosome, which ultimately triggers PANoptosis through caspase 3-mediated apoptosis, mixed lineage kinase domain like pseudokinase (MLKL)-mediated necroptosis, and gasdermin D (GSDMD)-mediated pyroptosis. In response to damaged mitochondrial DNA, ZBP1 can interact with cyclic GMP-AMP synthase to augment IFN-I responses but inhibits toll like receptor 9-mediated inflammatory responses. This review summarizes the structure and expression pattern of ZBP1, discusses its roles in human diseases through immune-dependent (e.g., the production of IFN-I and pro-inflammatory cytokines) and -independent (e.g., the activation of cell death) functions, and highlights the attractive prospect of manipulating ZBP1 as a promising therapeutic target in diseases.

Cell-type dependence of necroptosis pathways triggered by viral infection

Necroptosis, a potent host defense mechanism, limits viral replication and pathogenesis through three distinct initiation pathways. Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) via TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-β (TRIF), Z-DNA-binding protein 1 (ZBP1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α mediate necroptosis, with ZBP1 and TNF playing pivotal roles in controlling viral infections, with the role of TLR3-TRIF being less clear. ZBP1-mediated necroptosis is initiated when host ZBP1 senses viral Z-form double stranded RNA and recruits receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 3 (RIPK3), driving a mixed lineage kinase domain-like pseudokinase (MLKL)-dependent necroptosis pathway, whereas TNF-mediated necroptosis is initiated by TNF signaling, which drives a RIPK1-RIPK3-MLKL pathway, resulting in necroptosis. Certain viruses (cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus and vaccinia) have evolved to produce proteins that compete with host defense systems, preventing programmed cell death pathways from being initiated. Two engineered viruses deficient of active forms of these proteins, murine cytomegalovirus M45mutRHIM and vaccinia virus E3∆Zα, trigger ZBP1-dependent necroptosis in mouse embryonic fibroblasts. By contrast, when bone-marrow-derived macrophages are infected with the viruses, necroptosis is initiated predominantly through the TNF-mediated pathway. However, when the TNF pathway is blocked by RIPK1 inhibitors or a TNF blockade, ZBP1-mediated necroptosis becomes the prominent pathway in bone-marrow-derived macrophages. Overall, these data implicate a cell-type preference for either TNF-mediated or ZBP1-mediated necroptosis pathways in host responses to viral infections. These preferences are important to consider when evaluating disease models that incorporate necroptosis because they may contribute to tissue-specific reactions that could alter the balance of inflammation versus control of virus, impacting the organism as a whole.

Cytosolic DNA sensors activation of human astrocytes inhibits herpes simplex virus through IRF1 induction

Introduction

While astrocytes participate in the CNS innate immunity against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection, they are the major target for the virus. Therefore, it is of importance to understand the interplay between the astrocyte-mediated immunity and HSV-1 infection.

Methods

Both primary human astrocytes and the astrocyte line (U373) were used in this study. RT-qPCR and Western blot assay were used to measure IFNs, the antiviral IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs), IFN regulatory factors (IRFs) and HSV-1 DNA. IRF1 knockout or knockdown was performed with CRISPR/Cas9 and siRNA transfection techniques.

Results

Poly(dA:dT) could inhibit HSV-1 replication and induce IFN-β/IFN-λs production in human astrocytes. Poly(dA:dT) treatment of astrocytes also induced the expression of the antiviral ISGs (Viperin, ISG56 and MxA). Among IRFs members examined, poly(dA:dT) selectively unregulated IRF1 and IRF9, particularly IRF1 in human astrocytes. The inductive effects of poly(dA:dT) on IFNs and ISGs were diminished in the IRF1 knockout cells. In addition, IRF1 knockout attenuated poly(dA:dT)-mediated HSV-1 inhibition in the cells.

Conclusion

The DNA sensors activation induces astrocyte intracellular innate immunity against HSV-1. Therefore, targeting the DNA sensors has potential for immune activation-based HSV-1 therapy.

IE1 of Human Cytomegalovirus Inhibits Necroptotic Cell Death via Direct and Indirect Modulation of the Necrosome Complex

Programmed necrosis is an integral part of intrinsic immunity, serving to combat invading pathogens and restricting viral dissemination. The orchestration of necroptosis relies on a precise interplay within the necrosome complex, which consists of RIPK1, RIPK3 and MLKL. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has been found to counteract the execution of necroptosis during infection. In this study, we identify the immediate-early 1 (IE1) protein as a key antagonist of necroptosis during HCMV infection. Infection data obtained in a necroptosis-sensitive cell culture system revealed a robust regulation of post-translational modifications (PTMs) of the necrosome complex as well as the importance of IE1 expression for an effective counteraction of necroptosis. Interaction analyses unveiled an association of IE1 and RIPK3, which occurs in an RHIM-domain independent manner. We propose that this interaction manipulates the PTMs of RIPK3 by promoting its ubiquitination. Furthermore, IE1 was found to exert an indirect activity by modulating the levels of MLKL via antagonizing its interferon-mediated upregulation. Overall, we claim that IE1 performs a broad modulation of innate immune signaling to impede the execution of necroptotic cell death, thereby generating a favorable environment for efficient viral replication.

DNA at the center of mammalian innate immune recognition of bacterial biofilms

Historically, the study of innate immune detection of bacterial infections has focused on the recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) from bacteria growing as single cells in planktonic phase. However, over the past two decades, studies have highlighted an adaptive advantage of bacteria: the formation of biofilms. These structures are complex fortresses that stand against a hostile environment, including antibiotics and immune responses. Extracellular DNA (eDNA) is a crucial component of the matrix of most known biofilms. In this opinion article, I propose that eDNA is a universal PAMP that the immune system uses to recognize biofilms. Outstanding questions concern the discrimination between biofilm-associated eDNA and DNA from planktonic bacteria, the innate receptors involved, and the immune response to biofilms.

Caspase cleavage of RIPK3 after Asp333 is dispensable for mouse embryogenesis

The proteolytic activity of caspase-8 suppresses lethal RIPK1-, RIPK3- and MLKL-dependent necroptosis during mouse embryogenesis. Caspase-8 is reported to cleave RIPK3 in addition to the RIPK3-interacting kinase RIPK1, but whether cleavage of RIPK3 is crucial for necroptosis suppression is unclear. Here we show that caspase-8-driven cleavage of endogenous mouse RIPK3 after Asp333 is dependent on downstream caspase-3. Consistent with RIPK3 cleavage being a consequence of apoptosis rather than a critical brake on necroptosis, Ripk3D333A/D333A knock-in mice lacking the Asp333 cleavage site are viable and develop normally. Moreover, in contrast to mice lacking caspase-8 in their intestinal epithelial cells, Ripk3D333A/D333A mice do not exhibit increased sensitivity to high dose tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Ripk3D333A/D333A macrophages died at the same rate as wild-type (WT) macrophages in response to TNF plus cycloheximide, TNF plus emricasan, or infection with murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) lacking M36 and M45 to inhibit caspase-8 and RIPK3 activation, respectively. We conclude that caspase cleavage of RIPK3 is dispensable for mouse development, and that cleavage of caspase-8 substrates, including RIPK1, is sufficient to prevent necroptosis.

CSFV restricts necroptosis to sustain infection by inducing autophagy/mitophagy-targeted degradation of RIPK3

IMPORTANCE

CSFV infection in pigs causes persistent high fever, hemorrhagic necrotizing multi-organ inflammation, and high mortality, which seriously threatens the global swine industry. Cell death is an essential immune response of the host against pathogen invasion, and lymphopenia is the most typical clinical feature in the acute phase of CSFV infection, which affects the initial host antiviral immunity. As an "old" virus, CSFV has evolved mechanisms to evade host immune response after a long genetic evolution. Here, we show that necroptosis is a limiting host factor for CSFV infection and that CSFV-induced autophagy can subvert this host defense mechanism to promote its sustained replication. Our findings reveal a complex link between necroptosis and autophagy in the process of cell death, provide evidence supporting the important role for CSFV in counteracting host cell necrosis, and enrich our knowledge of pathogens that may subvert and evade this host defense.

Telomeres as hotspots for innate immunity and inflammation

Aging is marked by the gradual accumulation of deleterious changes that disrupt organ function, creating an altered physiological state that is permissive for the onset of prevalent human diseases. While the exact mechanisms governing aging remain a subject of ongoing research, there are several cellular and molecular hallmarks that contribute to this biological process. This review focuses on two factors, namely telomere dysfunction and inflammation, which have emerged as crucial contributors to the aging process. We aim to discuss the mechanistic connections between these two distinct hallmarks and provide compelling evidence highlighting the loss of telomere protection as a driver of pro-inflammatory states associated with aging. By reevaluating the interplay between telomeres, innate immunity, and inflammation, we present novel perspectives on the etiology of aging and its associated diseases.

The Z-nucleic acid sensor ZBP1 in health and disease

Nucleic acid sensing is a central process in the immune system, with far-reaching roles in antiviral defense, autoinflammation, and cancer. Z-DNA binding protein 1 (ZBP1) is a sensor for double-stranded DNA and RNA helices in the unusual left-handed Z conformation termed Z-DNA and Z-RNA. Recent research established ZBP1 as a key upstream regulator of cell death and proinflammatory signaling. Recognition of Z-DNA/RNA by ZBP1 promotes host resistance to viral infection but can also drive detrimental autoinflammation. Additionally, ZBP1 has interesting roles in cancer and other disease settings and is emerging as an attractive target for therapy.

Z-form nucleic acid-binding protein 1 (ZBP1) as a sensor of viral and cellular Z-RNAs: walking the razor's edge

Z-form nucleic acid-binding protein 1 (ZBP1) detects viral Z-form RNAs (Z-RNAs), activates receptor-interacting protein kinase 3, and triggers cell death during both RNA and DNA virus infections. Such cell death promotes virus clearance by eliminating infected cells and galvanizing antiviral immunity, and is thus often targeted for evasion by virus-encoded suppressors. Recent evidence demonstrates that ZBP1 can also be activated by cellular Z-RNAs transcribed from endogenous retroelements within mammalian genomes. These cellular Z-RNAs, if not edited and neutralized by adenosine deaminase RNA-specific 1, trigger ZBP1-dependent cell death and inflammation, which may drive disease in Aicardi-Goutière's syndrome and related interferonopathies. Thus, while well-controlled activation of ZBP1 by viral Z-RNAs during infections is beneficial, the same pathway can have harmful consequences when inappropriately triggered by cellular Z-RNAs in other disease settings.

PANoptosome signaling and therapeutic implications in infection: central role for ZBP1 to activate the inflammasome and PANoptosis

The innate immune response provides the first line of defense against infection and disease. Regulated cell death (RCD) is a key component of innate immune activation, and RCD must be tightly controlled to clear pathogens while preventing excess inflammation. Recent studies have highlighted a central role for the innate immune sensor Z-DNA-binding protein 1 (ZBP1) as an activator of a form of inflammatory RCD called PANoptosis, which is regulated by a multifaceted cell death complex called the PANoptosome. In response to influenza A virus infection, ZBP1 activates the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, which then acts as an integral component of the ZBP1-PANoptosome to drive inflammatory cell death, PANoptosis. In this context, the NLRP3 inflammasome is critical for caspase-1 activation and proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 maturation, but dispensable for cell death due to functional redundancies between PANoptosome molecules. Similarly, ZBP1 is also central to the absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2)-PANoptosome; this PANoptosome forms in response to Francisella novicida and herpes simplex virus 1 infection and incorporates the AIM2 inflammasome as an integral component. In this review, we will discuss the critical roles of ZBP1 in mediating innate immune responses through inflammasomes, PANoptosomes, and PANoptosis during infection. An improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms of innate immunity and cell death will be essential for the development of targeted modalities that can improve patient outcomes by mitigating severe disease.

Cooperative sensing of mitochondrial DNA by ZBP1 and cGAS promotes cardiotoxicity

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a potent agonist of the innate immune system; however, the exact immunostimulatory features of mtDNA and the kinetics of detection by cytosolic nucleic acid sensors remain poorly defined. Here, we show that mitochondrial genome instability promotes Z-form DNA accumulation. Z-DNA binding protein 1 (ZBP1) stabilizes Z-form mtDNA and nucleates a cytosolic complex containing cGAS, RIPK1, and RIPK3 to sustain STAT1 phosphorylation and type I interferon (IFN-I) signaling. Elevated Z-form mtDNA, ZBP1 expression, and IFN-I signaling are observed in cardiomyocytes after exposure to Doxorubicin, a first-line chemotherapeutic agent that induces frequent cardiotoxicity in cancer patients. Strikingly, mice lacking ZBP1 or IFN-I signaling are protected from Doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. Our findings reveal ZBP1 as a cooperative partner for cGAS that sustains IFN-I responses to mitochondrial genome instability and highlight ZBP1 as a potential target in heart failure and other disorders where mtDNA stress contributes to interferon-related pathology.

Beyond apoptosis: evidence of other regulated cell death pathways in the ovary throughout development and life

BACKGROUND

Regulated cell death is a fundamental component of numerous physiological processes; spanning from organogenesis in utero, to normal cell turnover during adulthood, as well as the elimination of infected or damaged cells throughout life. Quality control through regulation of cell death pathways is particularly important in the germline, which is responsible for the generation of offspring. Women are born with their entire supply of germ cells, housed in functional units known as follicles. Follicles contain an oocyte, as well as specialized somatic granulosa cells essential for oocyte survival. Follicle loss-via regulated cell death-occurs throughout follicle development and life, and can be accelerated following exposure to various environmental and lifestyle factors. It is thought that the elimination of damaged follicles is necessary to ensure that only the best quality oocytes are available for reproduction.

OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE

Understanding the precise factors involved in triggering and executing follicle death is crucial to uncovering how follicle endowment is initially determined, as well as how follicle number is maintained throughout puberty, reproductive life, and ovarian ageing in women. Apoptosis is established as essential for ovarian homeostasis at all stages of development and life. However, involvement of other cell death pathways in the ovary is less established. This review aims to summarize the most recent literature on cell death regulators in the ovary, with a particular focus on non-apoptotic pathways and their functions throughout the discrete stages of ovarian development and reproductive life.

SEARCH METHODS

Comprehensive literature searches were carried out using PubMed and Google Scholar for human, animal, and cellular studies published until August 2022 using the following search terms: oogenesis, follicle formation, follicle atresia, oocyte loss, oocyte apoptosis, regulated cell death in the ovary, non-apoptotic cell death in the ovary, premature ovarian insufficiency, primordial follicles, oocyte quality control, granulosa cell death, autophagy in the ovary, autophagy in oocytes, necroptosis in the ovary, necroptosis in oocytes, pyroptosis in the ovary, pyroptosis in oocytes, parthanatos in the ovary, and parthanatos in oocytes.

OUTCOMES

Numerous regulated cell death pathways operate in mammalian cells, including apoptosis, autophagic cell death, necroptosis, and pyroptosis. However, our understanding of the distinct cell death mediators in each ovarian cell type and follicle class across the different stages of life remains the source of ongoing investigation. Here, we highlight recent evidence for the contribution of non-apoptotic pathways to ovarian development and function. In particular, we discuss the involvement of autophagy during follicle formation and the role of autophagic cell death, necroptosis, pyroptosis, and parthanatos during follicle atresia, particularly in response to physiological stressors (e.g. oxidative stress).

WIDER IMPLICATIONS

Improved knowledge of the roles of each regulated cell death pathway in the ovary is vital for understanding ovarian development, as well as maintenance of ovarian function throughout the lifespan. This information is pertinent not only to our understanding of endocrine health, reproductive health, and fertility in women but also to enable identification of novel fertility preservation targets.

Encephalitis and poor neuronal death-mediated control of herpes simplex virus in human inherited RIPK3 deficiency

Inborn errors of TLR3-dependent type I IFN immunity in cortical neurons underlie forebrain herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) encephalitis (HSE) due to uncontrolled viral growth and subsequent cell death. We report an otherwise healthy patient with HSE who was compound heterozygous for nonsense (R422*) and frameshift (P493fs9*) RIPK3 variants. Receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) is a ubiquitous cytoplasmic kinase regulating cell death outcomes, including apoptosis and necroptosis. In vitro, the R422* and P493fs9* RIPK3 proteins impaired cellular apoptosis and necroptosis upon TLR3, TLR4, or TNFR1 stimulation and ZBP1/DAI-mediated necroptotic cell death after HSV-1 infection. The patient's fibroblasts displayed no detectable RIPK3 expression. After TNFR1 or TLR3 stimulation, the patient's cells did not undergo apoptosis or necroptosis. After HSV-1 infection, the cells supported excessive viral growth despite normal induction of antiviral IFN-β and IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs). This phenotype was, nevertheless, rescued by application of exogenous type I IFN. The patient's human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived cortical neurons displayed impaired cell death and enhanced viral growth after HSV-1 infection, as did isogenic RIPK3-knockout hPSC-derived cortical neurons. Inherited RIPK3 deficiency therefore confers a predisposition to HSE by impairing the cell death-dependent control of HSV-1 in cortical neurons but not their production of or response to type I IFNs.

Cytosolic DNA sensors and glial responses to endogenous DNA

Genomic instability is a key driving force for the development and progression of many neurodegenerative diseases and central nervous system (CNS) cancers. The initiation of DNA damage responses is a critical step in maintaining genomic integrity and preventing such diseases. However, the absence of these responses or their inability to repair genomic or mitochondrial DNA damage resulting from insults, including ionizing radiation or oxidative stress, can lead to an accumulation of self-DNA in the cytoplasm. Resident CNS cells, such as astrocytes and microglia, are known to produce critical immune mediators following CNS infection due to the recognition of pathogen and damage-associated molecular patterns by specialized pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). Recently, multiple intracellular PRRs, including cyclic GMP-AMP synthase, interferon gamma-inducible 16, absent in melanoma 2, and Z-DNA binding protein, have been identified as cytosolic DNA sensors and to play critical roles in glial immune responses to infectious agents. Intriguingly, these nucleic acid sensors have recently been shown to recognize endogenous DNA and trigger immune responses in peripheral cell types. In the present review, we discuss the available evidence that cytosolic DNA sensors are expressed by resident CNS cells and can mediate their responses to the presence of self-DNA. Furthermore, we discuss the potential for glial DNA sensor-mediated responses to provide protection against tumorigenesis versus the initiation of potentially detrimental neuroinflammation that could initiate or foster the development of neurodegenerative disorders. Determining the mechanisms that underlie the detection of cytosolic DNA by glia and the relative role of each pathway in the context of specific CNS disorders and their stages may prove pivotal in our understanding of the pathogenesis of such conditions and might be leveraged to develop new treatment modalities.

ZBP1 and heatstroke

Heatstroke, which is associated with circulatory failure and multiple organ dysfunction, is a heat stress-induced life-threatening condition characterized by a raised core body temperature and central nervous system dysfunction. As global warming continues to worsen, heatstroke is expected to become the leading cause of death globally. Despite the severity of this condition, the detailed mechanisms that underlie the pathogenesis of heatstroke still remain largely unknown. Z-DNA-binding protein 1 (ZBP1), also referred to as DNA-dependent activator of IFN-regulatory factors (DAI) and DLM-1, was initially identified as a tumor-associated and interferon (IFN)-inducible protein, but has recently been reported to be a Z-nucleic acid sensor that regulates cell death and inflammation; however, its biological function is not yet fully understood. In the present study, a brief review of the main regulators is presented, in which the Z-nucleic acid sensor ZBP1 was identified to be a significant factor in regulating the pathological characteristics of heatstroke through ZBP1-dependent signaling. Thus, the lethal mechanism of heatstroke is revealed, in addition to a second function of ZBP1 other than as a nucleic acid sensor.

Manipulation of Host Cell Death Pathways by Herpes Simplex Virus

Herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1 and HSV-2 are ubiquitous human pathogens that infect keratinized epithelial surfaces and establish lifelong latent infection in sensory neurons of the peripheral nervous system. HSV-1 causes oral cold sores, and HSV-2 causes genital lesions characterized by recurrence at the site of the initial infection. In multicellular organisms, cell death plays a pivotal role in host defense by eliminating pathogen-infected cells. Apoptosis and necrosis are readily distinguished types of cell death. Apoptosis, the main form of programmed cell death, depends on the activity of certain caspases, a family of cysteine proteases. Necroptosis, a regulated form of necrosis that is unleashed when caspase activity is compromised, requires the activation of receptor-interacting protein (RIP) kinase 3 (RIPK3) through its interaction with other RIP homotypic interaction motif (RHIM)-containing proteins such as RIPK1. To ensure lifelong infection in the host, HSV carries out sophisticated molecular strategies to evade host cell death responses during viral infection. HSV-1 is a well-characterized pathogen that encodes potent viral inhibitors that modulate both caspase activation in the apoptosis pathway and RIPK3 activation in the necroptosis pathway in a dramatic, species-specific fashion. The viral UL39-encoded viral protein ICP6, the large subunit of the virus-encoded ribonucleotide reductase, functions as a suppressor of both caspase-8 and RHIM-dependent RIPK3 activities in the natural human host. In contrast, ICP6 RHIM-mediated recruitment of RIPK3 in the nonnatural mouse host drives the direct activation of necroptosis. This chapter provides an overview of the current state of the knowledge on molecular interactions between HSV-1 viral proteins and host cell death pathways and highlights how HSV-1 manipulates cell death signals for the benefit of viral propagation.

Subversion of Programed Cell Death by Poxviruses

Poxviruses have been long regarded as potent inhibitors of apoptotic cell death. More recently, they have been shown to inhibit necroptotic cell death through two distinct strategies. These strategies involve either blocking virus sensing by the host pattern recognition receptor, ZBP1 (also called DAI) or by influencing receptor interacting protein kinase (RIPK)3 signal transduction by inhibition of activation of the executioner of necroptosis, mixed lineage kinase-like protein (MLKL). Vaccinia virus E3 specifically blocks ZBP1 → RIPK3 → MLKL necroptosis, leaving virus-infected cells susceptible to the TNF death-receptor signaling (e.g., TNFR1 → FADD → RIPK1 → RIPK3 → MLKL), and, potentially, TLR3 → TRIF → RIPK3 → MLKL necroptosis. While E3 restriction of necroptosis appears to be common to many poxviruses that infect vertebrate hosts, another modulatory strategy not observed in vaccinia or variola virus manifests through subversion of MLKL activation. Recently described viral mimics of MLKL in other chordopoxviruses inhibit all three modes of necroptotic cell death. As with inhibition of apoptosis, the evolution of potentially redundant viral mechanisms to inhibit programmed necroptotic cell death emphasizes the importance of this pathway in the arms race between pathogens and their hosts.

Z-DNA and Z-RNA: Methods-Past and Future

A quote attributed to Yogi Berra makes the observation that "It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future," highlighting the difficulties posed to an author writing a manuscript like the present. The history of Z-DNA shows that earlier postulates about its biology have failed the test of time, both those from proponents who were wildly enthusiastic in enunciating roles that till this day still remain elusive to experimental validation and those from skeptics within the larger community who considered the field a folly, presumably because of the limitations in the methods available at that time. If anything, the biological roles we now know for Z-DNA and Z-RNA were not anticipated by anyone, even when those early predictions are interpreted in the most favorable way possible. The breakthroughs in the field were made using a combination of methods, especially those based on human and mouse genetic approaches informed by the biochemical and biophysical characterization of the Zα family of proteins. The first success was with the p150 Zα isoform of ADAR1 (adenosine deaminase RNA specific), with insights into the functions of ZBP1 (Z-DNA-binding protein 1) following soon after from the cell death community. Just as the replacement of mechanical clocks by more accurate designs changed expectations about navigation, the discovery of the roles assigned by nature to alternative conformations like Z-DNA has forever altered our view of how the genome operates. These recent advances have been driven by better methodology and by better analytical approaches. This article will briefly describe the methods that were key to these discoveries and highlight areas where new method development is likely to further advance our knowledge.

OASL phase condensation induces amyloid-like fibrillation of RIPK3 to promote virus-induced necroptosis

RIPK3-ZBP1-MLKL-mediated necroptosis is a proinflammatory cell death process that is crucial for antiviral host defence. RIPK3 self-oligomerization and autophosphorylation are prerequisites for executing necroptosis, yet the underlying mechanism of virus-induced RIPK3 activation remains elusive. Interferon-inducible 2'-5' oligoadenylate synthetase-like (OASL) protein is devoid of enzymatic function but displays potent antiviral activity. Here we describe a role of OASL as a virus-induced necroptosis promoter that scaffolds the RIPK3-ZBP1 non-canonical necrosome via liquid-like phase condensation. This liquid-like platform of OASL recruits RIPK3 and ZBP1 via protein-protein interactions to provide spatial segregation for RIPK3 nucleation. This process facilitates the amyloid-like fibril formation and activation of RIPK3 and thereby MLKL phosphorylation for necroptosis. Mice deficient in Oasl1 exhibit severely impaired necroptosis and attenuated inflammation after viral infection, resulting in uncontrolled viral dissemination and lethality. Our study demonstrates an interferon-induced innate response whereby OASL scaffolds RIPK3-ZBP1 assembly via its phase-separated liquid droplets to facilitate necroptosis-mediated antiviral immunity.

ZBP1/DAI-Dependent Cell Death Pathways in Influenza A Virus Immunity and Pathogenesis

Influenza A viruses (IAV) are members of the Orthomyxoviridae family of negative-sense RNA viruses. The greatest diversity of IAV strains is found in aquatic birds, but a subset of strains infects other avian as well as mammalian species, including humans. In aquatic birds, infection is largely restricted to the gastrointestinal tract and spread is through feces, while in humans and other mammals, respiratory epithelial cells are the primary sites supporting productive replication and transmission. IAV triggers the death of most cell types in which it replicates, both in culture and in vivo. When well controlled, such cell death is considered an effective host defense mechanism that eliminates infected cells and limits virus spread. Unchecked or inopportune cell death also results in immunopathology. In this chapter, we discuss the impact of cell death in restricting virus spread, supporting the adaptive immune response and driving pathogenesis in the mammalian respiratory tract. Recent studies have begun to shed light on the signaling pathways underlying IAV-activated cell death. These pathways, initiated by the pathogen sensor protein ZBP1 (also called DAI and DLM1), cause infected cells to undergo apoptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis. We outline mechanisms of ZBP1-mediated cell death signaling following IAV infection.

Programmed Necrosis in Host Defense

Host control over infectious disease relies on the ability of cells in multicellular organisms to detect and defend against pathogens to prevent disease. Evolution affords mammals with a wide variety of independent immune mechanisms to control or eliminate invading infectious agents. Many pathogens acquire functions to deflect these immune mechanisms and promote infection. Following successful invasion of a host, cell autonomous signaling pathways drive the production of inflammatory cytokines, deployment of restriction factors and induction of cell death. Combined, these innate immune mechanisms attract dendritic cells, neutrophils and macrophages as well as innate lymphoid cells such as natural killer cells that all help control infection. Eventually, the development of adaptive pathogen-specific immunity clears infection and provides immune memory of the encounter. For obligate intracellular pathogens such as viruses, diverse cell death pathways make a pivotal contribution to early control by eliminating host cells before progeny are produced. Pro-apoptotic caspase-8 activity (along with caspase-10 in humans) executes extrinsic apoptosis, a nonlytic form of cell death triggered by TNF family death receptors (DRs). Over the past two decades, alternate extrinsic apoptosis and necroptosis outcomes have been described. Programmed necrosis, or necroptosis, occurs when receptor interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) activates mixed lineage kinase-like (MLKL), causing cell leakage. Thus, activation of DRs, toll-like receptors (TLRs) or pathogen sensor Z-nucleic acid binding protein 1 (ZBP1) initiates apoptosis as well as necroptosis if not blocked by virus-encoded inhibitors. Mammalian cell death pathways are blocked by herpesvirus- and poxvirus-encoded cell death suppressors. Growing evidence has revealed the importance of Z-nucleic acid sensor, ZBP1, in the cell autonomous recognition of both DNA and RNA virus infection. This volume will explore the detente between viruses and cells to manage death machinery and avoid elimination to support dissemination within the host animal.

Approaches to Evaluating Necroptosis in Virus-Infected Cells

The immune system functions to protect the host from pathogens. To counter host defense mechanisms, pathogens have developed unique strategies to evade detection or restrict host immune responses. Programmed cell death is a major contributor to the multiple host responses that help to eliminate infected cells for obligate intracellular pathogens like viruses. Initiation of programmed cell death pathways during the early stages of viral infections is critical for organismal survival as it restricts the virus from replicating and serves to drive antiviral inflammation immune recruitment through the release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) from the dying cell. Necroptosis has been implicated as a critical programmed cell death pathway in a diverse set of diseases and pathological conditions including acute viral infections. This cell death pathway occurs when certain host sensors are triggered leading to the downstream induction of mixed-lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL). MLKL induction leads to cytoplasmic membrane disruption and subsequent cellular destruction with the release of DAMPs. As the role of this cell death pathway in human disease becomes apparent, methods identifying necroptosis patterns and outcomes will need to be further developed. Here, we discuss advances in our understanding of how viruses counteract necroptosis, methods to quantify the pathway, its effects on viral pathogenesis, and its impact on cellular signaling.

The Emerging Roles of Pyroptosis, Necroptosis, and Ferroptosis in Non-Malignant Dermatoses: A Review

Unlike apoptosis, pyroptosis, necroptosis, and ferroptosis are recently identified modes of programmed cell death (PCD) with unique molecular pathways. Increasing evidence has indicated that these PCD modes play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of various non-malignant dermatoses (a group of cutaneous disorders), including infective dermatoses, immune-related dermatoses, allergic dermatoses, benign proliferative dermatoses, etc. Moreover, their molecular mechanisms have been suggested as potential therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of these dermatoses. In this article, we aim to review and summarize the molecular mechanisms of pyroptosis, necroptosis, and ferroptosis and their roles in the pathogenesis of some non-malignant dermatoses.

ZBP1-Mediated Necroptosis: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications

Cell death is a fundamental pathophysiological process in human disease. The discovery of necroptosis, a form of regulated necrosis that is induced by the activation of death receptors and formation of necrosome, represents a major breakthrough in the field of cell death in the past decade. Z-DNA-binding protein (ZBP1) is an interferon (IFN)-inducing protein, initially reported as a double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) sensor, which induces an innate inflammatory response. Recently, ZBP1 was identified as an important sensor of necroptosis during virus infection. It connects viral nucleic acid and receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) via two domains and induces the formation of a necrosome. Recent studies have also reported that ZBP1 induces necroptosis in non-viral infections and mediates necrotic signal transduction by a unique mechanism. This review highlights the discovery of ZBP1 and its novel findings in necroptosis and provides an insight into its critical role in the crosstalk between different types of cell death, which may represent a new therapeutic option.

Differential transcriptomic changes in the central nervous system and urinary bladders of mice infected with a coronavirus

Multiple sclerosis (MS) often leads to the development of neurogenic lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). We previously characterized neurogenic bladder dysfunction in a mouse model of MS induced by a coronavirus, mouse hepatitis virus (MHV). The aim of the study was to identify genes and pathways linking neuroinflammation in the central nervous system with urinary bladder (UB) dysfunction to enhance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying LUTS in demyelinating diseases. Adult C57BL/6 male mice (N = 12) received either an intracranial injection of MHV (coronavirus-induced encephalomyelitis, CIE group), or sterile saline (control group). Spinal cord (SC) and urinary bladders (UB) were collected from CIE mice at 1 wk and 4 wks, followed by RNA isolation and NanoString nCounter Neuroinflammation assay. Transcriptome analysis of SC identified a significantly changed expression of >150 genes in CIE mice known to regulate astrocyte, microglia and oligodendrocyte functions, neuroinflammation and immune responses. Two genes were significantly upregulated (Ttr and Ms4a4a), and two were downregulated (Asb2 and Myct1) only in the UB of CIE mice. Siglec1 and Zbp1 were the only genes significantly upregulated in both tissues, suggesting a common transcriptomic link between neuroinflammation in the CNS and neurogenic changes in the UB of CIE mice.

Oncolytic virus: A catalyst for the treatment of gastric cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) is a leading contributor to global cancer incidence and mortality. According to the GLOBOCAN 2020 estimates of incidence and mortality for 36 cancers in 185 countries produced by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), GC ranks fifth and fourth, respectively, and seriously threatens the survival and health of people all over the world. Therefore, how to effectively treat GC has become an urgent problem for medical personnel and scientific workers at this stage. Due to the unobvious early symptoms and the influence of some adverse factors such as tumor heterogeneity and low immunogenicity, patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC) cannot benefit significantly from treatments such as radical surgical resection, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. As an emerging cancer immunotherapy, oncolytic virotherapies (OVTs) can not only selectively lyse cancer cells, but also induce a systemic antitumor immune response. This unique ability to turn unresponsive 'cold' tumors into responsive 'hot' tumors gives them great potential in GC therapy. This review integrates most experimental studies and clinical trials of various oncolytic viruses (OVs) in the diagnosis and treatment of GC. It also exhaustively introduces the concrete mechanism of invading GC cells and the viral genome composition of adenovirus and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). At the end of the article, some prospects are put forward to determine the developmental directions of OVTs for GC in the future.

Z-nucleic acids: Uncovering the functions from past to present

Since Z-nucleic acid was identified in the 1970s, much is still unknown about its biological functions and nature in vivo. Recent studies on adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1) and Z-DNA-binding protein 1 (ZBP1) have highlighted its function in immune responses. Specifically, Z-RNAs, either endogenous or induced by viral infection, are sensed by ZBP1 and activate necroptosis. Z-RNAs act as the stimuli that induce innate immune responses through various pathways, including melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MAD5)-mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein (MAVS)-mediated type I IFN activation and proteinase kinase R (PKR)-dependent integrated stress response, and their immunostimulatory potential is curtailed by RNA editing conducted by ADAR1. Aberrant immune responses induced by Z-RNAs are associated with human diseases. They also induce pathogenesis in mice. Unlike Z-RNAs, the biological functions of Z-DNAs were barely studied, especially in mammals. Moreover, the origin or sequence preference of Z-nucleic acids requires further investigation. Such knowledge will expand our understanding of Z-nucleic acids, including from which genomic loci and under which circumstances they form, and the mechanisms by which they participate in the physiological activities. In this review, we provide insights in Z-nucleic acid research and highlight the unsolved puzzles.

LncRNA PVT1 mediates the progression of liver necroptosis via ZBP1 promoter methylation under nonylphenol exposure

Nonylphenol (NP) is one of the most toxic and ubiquitously present endocrine disrupting compounds. Numerous studies have shown that NP exposure induces liver injury, but the interactions between epigenetic factors and necroptosis in this context have not been examined. In this study, rats received daily NP administration (15, 45, and 135 mg/kg/day) via oral gavage over a 28-day period. The upregulation of lncRNA PVT1 was associated with the elevated expression of necroptosis-related proteins (ZBP1, RIPK3, MLKL, and p-MLKL). Moreover, similar effects were also observed after NP exposure in BRL-3A cells. LncRNA PVT1 was predominantly expressed in the nucleus, and ASO was chosen to knock down lncRNA PVT1 in BRL-3A cells. Experimental techniques such as RNA immunoprecipitation, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and co-immunoprecipitation were used to verify direct binding interactions among lncRNA PVT1, EZH2, DNMT1, and ZBP1. The evidence obtained indicated that lncRNA PVT1 could bind to DNMT1 via EZH2 and increase methylation at the ZBP1 promoter, thereby promoting necroptosis. Meanwhile, the demethylation of the highly expressed gene TET1 also promoted ZBP1 upregulation, inducing necroptosis. Taken together, these findings provide valuable insights into the potential molecular mechanisms underlying liver injury in response to NP exposure. Hence, they lay a mechanistic foundation for the evaluation of NP biosafety.

Mechanisms of TNF-independent RIPK3-mediated cell death

Apoptosis and necroptosis regulate many aspects of organismal biology and are involved in various human diseases. TNF is well known to induce both of these forms of cell death and the underlying mechanisms have been elaborately described. However, cells can also engage apoptosis and necroptosis through TNF-independent mechanisms, involving, for example, activation of the pattern recognition receptors Toll-like receptor (TLR)-3 and -4, or zDNA-binding protein 1 (ZBP1). In this context, cell death signaling depends on the presence of receptor-interacting serine/threonine protein kinase 3 (RIPK3). Whereas RIPK3 is required for TNF-induced necroptosis, it mediates both apoptosis and necroptosis upon TLR3/4 and ZBP1 engagement. Here, we review the intricate mechanisms by which TNF-independent cell death is regulated by RIPK3.

ZBP1: A Powerful Innate Immune Sensor and Double-Edged Sword in Host Immunity

Z-conformation nucleic acid binding protein 1 (ZBP1), a powerful innate immune sensor, has been identified as the important signaling initiation factor in innate immune response and the multiple inflammatory cell death known as PANoptosis. The initiation of ZBP1 signaling requires recognition of left-handed double-helix Z-nucleic acid (includes Z-DNA and Z-RNA) and subsequent signaling transduction depends on the interaction between ZBP1 and its adapter proteins, such as TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (RIPK1), and RIPK3. ZBP1 activated innate immunity, including type-I interferon (IFN-I) response and NF-κB signaling, constitutes an important line of defense against pathogenic infection. In addition, ZBP1-mediated PANoptosis is a double-edged sword in anti-infection, auto-inflammatory diseases, and tumor immunity. ZBP1-mediated PANoptosis is beneficial for eliminating infected cells and tumor cells, but abnormal or excessive PANoptosis can lead to a strong inflammatory response that is harmful to the host. Thus, pathogens and host have each developed multiplex tactics targeting ZBP1 signaling to maintain strong virulence or immune homeostasis. In this paper, we reviewed the mechanisms of ZBP1 signaling, the effects of ZBP1 signaling on host immunity and pathogen infection, and various antagonistic strategies of host and pathogen against ZBP1. We also discuss existent gaps regarding ZBP1 signaling and forecast potential directions for future research.

Necroptosis at a glance

Necroptosis, or programmed necrosis, is an inflammatory form of cell death with important functions in host defense against pathogens and tissue homeostasis. The four cytosolic receptor-interacting protein kinase homotypic interaction motif (RHIM)-containing adaptor proteins RIPK1, RIPK3, TRIF (also known as TICAM1) and ZBP1 mediate necroptosis induction in response to infection and cytokine or innate immune receptor activation. Activation of the RHIM adaptors leads to phosphorylation, oligomerization and membrane targeting of the necroptosis effector protein mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL). Active MLKL induces lesions on the plasma membrane, leading to the release of pro-inflammatory damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Thus, activities of the RHIM adaptors and MLKL are tightly regulated by posttranslational modifications to prevent inadvertent release of immunogenic contents. In this Cell Science at a Glance article and the accompanying poster, we provide an overview of the regulatory mechanisms of necroptosis and its biological functions in tissue homeostasis, pathogen infection and other inflammatory diseases.

RIPK3 and caspase 8 collaborate to limit herpes simplex encephalitis

Invasion of the brain by herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) can lead to the development of herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) that is often associated with significant morbidity and mortality regardless of therapeutic intervention. Both virus and host immune factors dictate HSE onset and progression. Because programmed cell death pathways including necroptosis are important antiviral defense mechanisms in HSV1-associated peripheral diseases, they might also play critical roles in HSV1 neuropathogenesis. HSV1-encoded ICP6 prevents receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3)-mediated necroptosis during infection of human cells, but it also acts as a species-dependent inducer of necroptosis in murine cells and thereby restricts virus replication. We therefore used an established mouse model of HSE to investigate RIPK3-mediated necroptosis impact on HSV1 neuropathogenesis. Following corneal HSV1 inoculation, RIPK3 knockout mice showed increased susceptibility to HSE when compared with wildtype mice indicating RIPK3 helps to limit HSE progression. RIPK3-mediated defense against HSE was found to be independent of the kinase domain necessary to drive necroptosis implicating that a death independent function of RIPK3 protects against HSE. Conversely the pro-necroptotic kinase function RIPK3 served to limit viral replication in corneal tissue implicating a tissue-specific RIPK3 function in limiting HSV1. Further evaluation of the kinase-independent mechanism to restrict HSE revealed that the RIPK3 signaling partner, caspase 8, contributes to limiting HSE neuropathogenesis. Increased HSE susceptibility from loss of caspase 8 and RIPK3 correlated with decreased levels of chemokines, cytokines, and antiviral lymphocytes recruitment to the brain. We conclude that RIPK3 contributes toward host control of HSV1 replication in a tissue-specific fashion. Whereas RIPK3-mediated necroptosis restricts virus replication within the cornea, kinase-independent induction of inflammation by RIPK3 in collaboration with caspase 8 restricts virus replication within the brain during HSE neuropathogenesis.

The role of RHIM in necroptosis

The RIP homotypic interaction motif (RHIM) is a conserved protein domain that is approximately 18–22 amino acids in length. In humans, four proteins carrying RHIM domains have been identified: receptor-interacting serine/threonine protein kinase (RIPK) 1, RIPK3, Z-DNA-binding protein 1 (ZBP1), and TIR domain-containing adapter-inducing IFN-β (TRIF), which are all major players in necroptosis, a distinct form of regulated cell death. Necroptosis is mostly presumed to be a fail-safe form of cell death, occurring in cells in which apoptosis is compromised. Upon activation, RIPK1, ZBP1, and TRIF each hetero-oligomerize with RIPK3 and induce the assembly of an amyloid-like structure of RIPK3 homo-oligomers. These act as docking stations for the recruitment of the pseudokinase mixed-lineage kinase domain like (MLKL), the pore-forming executioner of necroptosis. As RHIM domain interactions are a vital component of the signaling cascade and can also be involved in apoptosis and pyroptosis activation, it is unsurprising that viral and bacterial pathogens have developed means of disrupting RHIM-mediated signaling to ensure survival. Moreover, as these mechanisms play an essential part of regulated cell death signaling, they have received much attention in recent years. Herein, we present the latest insights into the supramolecular structure of interacting RHIM proteins and their distinct signaling cascades in inflammation and infection. Their uncovering will ultimately contribute to the development of new therapeutic strategies in the regulation of lytic cell death.

ADAR1 prevents autoinflammation by suppressing spontaneous ZBP1 activation

The RNA-editing enzyme adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1) limits the accumulation of endogenous immunostimulatory double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)¹. In humans, reduced ADAR1 activity causes the severe inflammatory disease Aicardi-Goutières syndrome (AGS)². In mice, complete loss of ADAR1 activity is embryonically lethal^3-6, and mutations similar to those found in patients with AGS cause autoinflammation^7-12. Mechanistically, adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) base modification of endogenous dsRNA by ADAR1 prevents chronic overactivation of the dsRNA sensors MDA5 and PKR^3,7-10,13,14. Here we show that ADAR1 also inhibits the spontaneous activation of the left-handed Z-nucleic acid sensor ZBP1. Activation of ZBP1 elicits caspase-8-dependent apoptosis and MLKL-mediated necroptosis of ADAR1-deficient cells. ZBP1 contributes to the embryonic lethality of Adar-knockout mice, and it drives early mortality and intestinal cell death in mice deficient in the expression of both ADAR and MAVS. The Z-nucleic-acid-binding Zα domain of ADAR1 is necessary to prevent ZBP1-mediated intestinal cell death and skin inflammation. The Zα domain of ADAR1 promotes A-to-I editing of endogenous Alu elements to prevent dsRNA formation through the pairing of inverted Alu repeats, which can otherwise induce ZBP1 activation. This shows that recognition of Alu duplex RNA by ZBP1 may contribute to the pathological features of AGS that result from the loss of ADAR1 function.

Construction of ssDNA-Attached LR-Chimera Involving Z-DNA for ZBP1 Binding Analysis

The binding of proteins to Z-DNA is hard to analyze, especially for short non-modified DNA, because it is easily transferred to B-DNA. Here, by the hybridization of a larger circular single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) with a smaller one, an LR-chimera (involving a left-handed part and a right-handed one) with an ssDNA loop is produced. The circular ssDNAs are prepared by the hybridization of two ssDNA fragments to form two nicks, followed by nick sealing with T4 DNA ligase. No splint (a scaffold DNA for circularizing ssDNA) is required, and no polymeric byproducts are produced. The ssDNA loop on the LR-chimera can be used to attach it with other molecules by hybridization with another ssDNA. The gel shift binding assay with Z-DNA specific binding antibody (Z22) or Z-DNA binding protein 1 (ZBP1) shows that stable Z-DNA can form under physiological ionic conditions even when the extra ssDNA part is present. Concretely, a 5'-terminal biotin-modified DNA oligonucleotide complementary to the ssDNA loop on the LR-chimera is used to attach it on the surface of a biosensor inlaid with streptavidin molecules, and the binding constant of ZBP1 with Z-DNA is analyzed by BLI (bio-layer interferometry). This approach is convenient for quantitatively analyzing the binding dynamics of Z-DNA with other molecules.

The RHIM of the Immune Adaptor Protein TRIF Forms Hybrid Amyloids with Other Necroptosis-Associated Proteins

TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-β (TRIF) is an innate immune protein that serves as an adaptor for multiple cellular signalling outcomes in the context of infection. TRIF is activated via ligation of Toll-like receptors 3 and 4. One outcome of TRIF-directed signalling is the activation of the programmed cell death pathway necroptosis, which is governed by interactions between proteins that contain a RIP Homotypic Interaction Motif (RHIM). TRIF contains a RHIM sequence and can interact with receptor interacting protein kinases 1 (RIPK1) and 3 (RIPK3) to initiate necroptosis. Here, we demonstrate that the RHIM of TRIF is amyloidogenic and supports the formation of homomeric TRIF-containing fibrils. We show that the core tetrad sequence within the RHIM governs the supramolecular organisation of TRIF amyloid assemblies, although the stable amyloid core of TRIF amyloid fibrils comprises a much larger region than the conserved RHIM only. We provide evidence that RHIMs of TRIF, RIPK1 and RIPK3 interact directly to form heteromeric structures and that these TRIF-containing hetero-assemblies display altered and emergent properties that likely underlie necroptosis signalling in response to Toll-like receptor activation.

Emerging Role of ZBP1 in Z-RNA Sensing, Influenza Virus-Induced Cell Death, and Pulmonary Inflammation

Influenza viruses cause respiratory tract infections, which lead to human disease outbreaks and pandemics. Influenza A virus (IAV) circulates in diverse animal species, predominantly aquatic birds. This often results in the emergence of novel viral strains causing severe human disease upon zoonotic transmission. Innate immune sensing of the IAV infection promotes host cell death and inflammatory responses to confer antiviral host defense. Dysregulated respiratory epithelial cell death and excessive proinflammatory responses drive immunopathology in highly pathogenic influenza infections. Here, we discuss the critical mechanisms regulating IAV-induced cell death and proinflammatory responses. We further describe the essential role of the Z-form nucleic acid sensor ZBP1/DAI and RIPK3 in triggering apoptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis during IAV infection and their impact on host defense and pathogenicity in vivo. We also discuss the functional importance of ZBP1-RIPK3 signaling in recent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and other viral infections. Understanding these mechanisms of RNA virus-induced cytopathic and pathogenic inflammatory responses is crucial for targeting pathogenic lung infections and human respiratory illness.

Programmed Cell Death-Dependent Host Defense in Ocular Herpes Simplex Virus Infection

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) remains one of the most ubiquitous human pathogens on earth. The classical presentation of HSV1 infection occurs as a recurrent lesions of the oral mucosa commonly refer to as the common cold sore. However, HSV1 also is responsible for a range of ocular diseases in immunocompetent persons that are of medical importance, causing vision loss that may result in blindness. These include a recurrent corneal disease, herpes stromal keratitis, and a retinal disease, acute retinal necrosis, for which clinically relevant animal models exist. Diverse host immune mechanisms mediate control over herpesviruses, sustaining lifelong latency in neurons. Programmed cell death (PCD) pathways including apoptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis serve as an innate immune mechanism that eliminates virus-infected cells and regulates infection-associated inflammation during virus invasion. These different types of cell death operate under distinct regulatory mechanisms but all server to curtail virus infection. Herpesviruses, including HSV1, have evolved numerous cell death evasion strategies that restrict the hosts ability to control PCD to subvert clearance of infection and modulate inflammation. In this review, we discuss the key studies that have contributed to our current knowledge of cell death pathways manipulated by HSV1 and relate the contributions of cell death to infection and potential ocular disease outcomes.

Innate Sensors Trigger Regulated Cell Death to Combat Intracellular Infection

Intracellular pathogens pose a significant threat to animals. In defense, innate immune sensors attempt to detect these pathogens using pattern recognition receptors that either directly detect microbial molecules or indirectly detect their pathogenic activity. These sensors trigger different forms of regulated cell death, including pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis, which eliminate the infected host cell niche while simultaneously promoting beneficial immune responses. These defenses force intracellular pathogens to evolve strategies to minimize or completely evade the sensors. In this review, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the cytosolic pattern recognition receptors that drive cell death, including NLRP1, NLRP3, NLRP6, NLRP9, NLRC4, AIM2, IFI16, and ZBP1. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Immunology, Volume 40 is April 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Small Hero with Great Powers: Vaccinia Virus E3 Protein and Evasion of the Type I IFN Response

Poxviridae have developed a plethora of strategies to evade innate and adaptive immunity. In this review, we focused on the vaccinia virus E3 protein, encoded by the E3L gene. E3 is present within the Chordopoxvirinae subfamily (with the exception of the avipoxviruses and molluscum contagiosum virus) and displays pleiotropic effects on the innate immune system. Initial studies identified E3 as a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-binding protein (through its C terminus), able to inhibit the activation of protein kinase dependent on RNA (PKR) and the 2′5′-oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS)/RNase L pathway, rendering E3 a protein counteracting the type I interferon (IFN) system. In recent years, N-terminal mutants of E3 unable to bind to Z-form nucleic acids have been shown to induce the cellular death pathway necroptosis. This pathway was dependent on host IFN-inducible Z-DNA-binding protein 1 (ZBP1); full-length E3 is able to inhibit ZBP1-mediated necroptosis. Binding to what was identified as Z-RNA has emerged as a novel mechanism of counteracting the type I IFN system and has broadened our understanding of innate immunity against viral infections. This article gives an overview of the studies leading to our understanding of the vaccinia virus E3 protein function and its involvement in viral pathogenesis. Furthermore, a short summary of other viral systems is provided.

PANoptosis: A New Insight Into Oral Infectious Diseases

The oral microbiome, one of the most complex and intensive microbial ecosystems in the human body, comprises bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoa, and viruses. Dysbiosis of the oral microbiome is the initiating factor that leads to oral infectious diseases. Infection is a sophisticated biological process involving interplay between the pathogen and the host, which often leads to activation of programmed cell death. Studies suggest that pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis are involved in multiple oral infectious diseases. Further understanding of crosstalk between cell death pathways has led to pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis being integrated into a single term: PANoptosis. PANoptosis is a multifaceted agent of the immune response that has important pathophysiological relevance to infectious diseases, autoimmunity, and cancer. As such, it plays an important role in innate immune cells that detect and eliminate intracellular pathogens. In addition to the classical model of influenza virus-infected and Yersinia-infected macrophages, other studies have expanded the scope of PANoptosis to include other microorganisms, as well as potential roles in cell types other than macrophages. In this review, we will summarize the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying inflammation and tissue destruction caused by oral pathogens. We present an overview of different pathogens that may induce activation of PANoptosis, along with the functional consequences of PANoptosis in the context of oral infectious diseases. To advance our understanding of immunology, we also explore the strategies used by microbes that enable immune evasion and replication within host cells. Improved understanding of the interplay between the host and pathogen through PANoptosis will direct development of therapeutic strategies that target oral infectious diseases.

Viral manipulation of host cell necroptosis and pyroptosis

Cell death forms an essential component of the antiviral immune response. Viral infection elicits different forms of host cell death, including the lytic and inflammatory cell death modes necroptosis or pyroptosis. The induction of both types of cell death not only eliminates virus-infected cells but also contributes to the development of innate and adaptive immunity through the release of inflammatory mediators. The importance of necroptosis and pyroptosis in host defence is evident from the numerous viral evasion mechanisms that suppress these cell death pathways. Here, we review the emerging principles by which viruses antagonise host cell necroptosis and pyroptosis to promote their spread and block host immunity.

Viral Z-RNA triggers ZBP1-dependent cell death

Z-DNA Binding protein 1 (ZBP1) activates Receptor Interacting Protein Kinase 3 (RIPK3) -dependent cell death during lytic infection by members of the orthomyxovirus, herpesvirus and poxvirus families. ZBP1 possesses two Zα domains capable of selective binding to Z-DNA, as well as to Z-RNA. We have now unveiled Z-RNA as the ligand that activates ZBP1 in cells infected with orthomyxoviruses (influenza A and B viruses) and the poxvirus vaccinia virus (VACV). Orthomyxovirus Z-RNA is sensed by ZBP1 in the nucleus of infected cells, resulting in nuclear activation of RIPK3, consequent rupture of the nucleus, and hyper-inflammatory 'nuclear necroptosis'. VACV-generated Z-RNA accumulates in the cytoplasm, where it is sequestered from ZBP1 by E3, the viral E3L gene product. In viruses where the E3 Zα domain has been mutated, ZBP1 senses Z-RNA and triggers RIPK3-dependent necroptosis in the cytoplasm. Z-RNA is thus a new viral pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP).

Regulated lytic cell death in breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is a very common cancer among women and one of the primary causes of death in women worldwide. Because BC has different molecular subtypes, the challenges associated with targeted therapy have increased significantly, and the identification of new therapeutic targets has become increasingly urgent. Blocking apoptosis and inhibiting cell death are important characteristics of malignant tumours, including BC. Under adverse conditions, including exposure to antitumour therapy, inhibition of cell death programmes can promote cancerous transformation and the survival of cancer cells. Therefore, inducing cell death in cancer cells is fundamentally important and provides new opportunities for potential therapeutic interventions. Lytic forms of cell death, primarily pyroptosis, necroptosis and ferroptosis, are different from apoptosis owing to their characteristic lysis, that is, the production of cellular components, to guide beneficial immune responses, and the application of lytic cell death (LCD) in the field of tumour therapy has attracted considerable interest from researchers. The latest clinical research results confirm that lytic death signalling cascades involve the BC cell immune response and resistance to therapies used in clinical practice. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge regarding the various forms of LCD, placing a special emphasis on signalling pathways and their implications in BC, which may facilitate the development of novel and optimal strategies for the clinical treatment of BC.

Viral Suppression of RIPK1-Mediated Signaling

Receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) has emerged as a key upstream regulator of cell death and inflammation. RIPK1-mediated signaling governs the outcome of signaling pathways initiated by tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1), Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3), TLR4, retinoic acid-inducible gene 1 (RIG-I)/melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA-5), and Z-binding protein 1 (ZBP1) by signaling for NF-κB activation, mitogen-associated protein kinase (MAPK) and interferon regulatory factor 3/7 (IRF3/7) phosphorylation, and cell death via apoptosis and necroptosis. Both cell death and inflammatory responses play a major role in controlling virus infections. Therefore, viruses have evolved multifaceted mechanisms to exploit host immune responses by targeting RIPK1. This review focuses on the current understanding of RIPK1-mediated inflammatory and cell death pathways and multiple mechanisms by which viruses manipulate these pathways by targeting RIPK1. We also discuss gaps in our knowledge regarding RIPK1-mediated signaling pathways and highlight potential avenues for future research.

Antioxidant and food additive BHA prevents TNF cytotoxicity by acting as a direct RIPK1 inhibitor

Butylate hydroxyanisole (BHA) is a synthetic phenol that is widely utilized as a preservative by the food and cosmetic industries. The antioxidant properties of BHA are also frequently used by scientists to claim the implication of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in various cellular processes, including cell death. We report on the surprising finding that BHA functions as a direct inhibitor of RIPK1, a major signaling hub downstream of several immune receptors. Our in silico analysis predicts binding of 3-BHA, but not 2-BHA, to RIPK1 in an inactive DLG-out/Glu-out conformation, similar to the binding of the type III inhibitor Nec-1s to RIPK1. This predicted superior inhibitory capacity of 3-BHA over 2-BHA was confirmed in cells and using in vitro kinase assays. We demonstrate that the reported protective effect of BHA against tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced necroptotic death does not originate from ROS scavenging but instead from direct RIPK1 enzymatic inhibition, a finding that most probably extends to other reported effects of BHA. Accordingly, we show that BHA not only protects cells against RIPK1-mediated necroptosis but also against RIPK1 kinase-dependent apoptosis. We found that BHA treatment completely inhibits basal and induced RIPK1 enzymatic activity in cells, monitored at the level of TNFR1 complex I under apoptotic conditions or in the cytosol under necroptosis. Finally, we show that oral administration of BHA protects mice from RIPK1 kinase-dependent lethality caused by TNF injection, a model of systemic inflammatory response syndrome. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that BHA can no longer be used as a strict antioxidant and that new functions of RIPK1 may emerge from previously reported effects of BHA.

Vaccinia virus E3 prevents sensing of Z-RNA to block ZBP1-dependent necroptosis

Necroptosis mediated by Z-nucleic-acid-binding protein (ZBP)1 (also called DAI or DLM1) contributes to innate host defense against viruses by triggering cell death to eliminate infected cells. During infection, vaccinia virus (VACV) protein E3 prevents death signaling by competing for Z-form RNA through an N-terminal Zα domain. In the absence of this E3 domain, Z-form RNA accumulates during the early phase of VACV infection, triggering ZBP1 to recruit receptor interacting protein kinase (RIPK)3 and execute necroptosis. The C-terminal E3 double-strand RNA-binding domain must be retained to observe accumulation of Z-form RNA and induction of necroptosis. Substitutions of Zα from either ZBP1 or the RNA-editing enzyme double-stranded RNA adenosine deaminase (ADAR)1 yields fully functional E3 capable of suppressing virus-induced necroptosis. Overall, our evidence reveals the importance of Z-form RNA generated during VACV infection as a pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) unleashing ZBP1/RIPK3/MLKL-dependent necroptosis unless suppressed by viral E3.