Weindel, C.G., Martinez, E.L., Zhao, X., Mabry, C.J., Bell, S.L., Vail, K.J., Coleman, A.K., VanPortfliet, J.J., Zhao, B., Wagner, A.R., Azam, S., Scott, H.M., Li, P., West, A.P., Karpac, J., Patrick, K.L., Watson, R.O. (2022). Mitochondrial ROS promotes susceptibility to infection via gasdermin D-mediated necroptosis.  Cell 185(17): 3214--3231.e23.

FBrf0254279

Research paper

Although mutations in mitochondrial-associated genes are linked to inflammation and susceptibility to infection, their mechanistic contributions to immune outcomes remain ill-defined. We discovered that the disease-associated gain-of-function allele Lrrk2G2019S (leucine-rich repeat kinase 2) perturbs mitochondrial homeostasis and reprograms cell death pathways in macrophages. When the inflammasome is activated in Lrrk2G2019S macrophages, elevated mitochondrial ROS (mtROS) directs association of the pore-forming protein gasdermin D (GSDMD) to mitochondrial membranes. Mitochondrial GSDMD pore formation then releases mtROS, promoting a switch to RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL-dependent necroptosis. Consistent with enhanced necroptosis, infection of Lrrk2G2019S mice with Mycobacterium tuberculosis elicits hyperinflammation and severe immunopathology. Our findings suggest a pivotal role for GSDMD as an executer of multiple cell death pathways and demonstrate that mitochondrial dysfunction can direct immune outcomes via cell death modality switching. This work provides insights into how LRRK2 mutations manifest or exacerbate human diseases and identifies GSDMD-dependent necroptosis as a potential target to limit Lrrk2G2019S-mediated immunopathology.

PMC9531054 (PMC) (EuropePMC)