Influenza Virus Z-RNAs Induce ZBP1-Mediated Necroptosis

Cell. 2020 Mar 19;180(6):1115-1129.e13. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.02.050.

Abstract

Influenza A virus (IAV) is a lytic RNA virus that triggers receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 3 (RIPK3)-mediated pathways of apoptosis and mixed lineage kinase domain-like pseudokinase (MLKL)-dependent necroptosis in infected cells. ZBP1 initiates RIPK3-driven cell death by sensing IAV RNA and activating RIPK3. Here, we show that replicating IAV generates Z-RNAs, which activate ZBP1 in the nucleus of infected cells. ZBP1 then initiates RIPK3-mediated MLKL activation in the nucleus, resulting in nuclear envelope disruption, leakage of DNA into the cytosol, and eventual necroptosis. Cell death induced by nuclear MLKL was a potent activator of neutrophils, a cell type known to drive inflammatory pathology in virulent IAV disease. Consequently, MLKL-deficient mice manifest reduced nuclear disruption of lung epithelia, decreased neutrophil recruitment into infected lungs, and increased survival following a lethal dose of IAV. These results implicate Z-RNA as a new pathogen-associated molecular pattern and describe a ZBP1-initiated nucleus-to-plasma membrane "inside-out" death pathway with potentially pathogenic consequences in severe cases of influenza.

Keywords: MLKL; RIPK3; Z-RNA; ZBP1; apoptosis; caspase-8; dsRNA; influenza; necroptosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Cell Death / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Female
  • Influenza A virus / genetics*
  • Influenza A virus / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Necroptosis / genetics*
  • Necrosis / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • RNA / metabolism
  • RNA, Double-Stranded / genetics
  • RNA, Double-Stranded / metabolism
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / physiology

Substances

  • RNA, Double-Stranded
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • ZBP1 protein, human
  • Zbp1 protein, mouse
  • RNA
  • MLKL protein, human
  • Protein Kinases
  • RIPK3 protein, human
  • Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases