Type-I interferon signaling through ISGF3 complex is required for sustained Rip3 activation and necroptosis in macrophages

Myeloid cells play a critical role in perpetuating inflammation during various chronic diseases. Recently the death of macrophages through programmed necrosis (necroptosis) has emerged as an important mechanism in inflammation and pathology. We evaluated the mechanisms that lead to the induction of necrotic cell death in macrophages. Our results indicate that type I IFN (IFN-I) signaling is a predominant mechanism of necroptosis, because macrophages deficient in IFN-alpha receptor type I (IFNAR1) are highly resistant to necroptosis after stimulation with LPS, polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid, TNF-alpha, or IFN-beta in the presence of caspase inhibitors. IFN-I-induced necroptosis occurred through both mechanisms dependent on and independent of Toll/IL-1 receptor domain-containing adaptor inducing IFN-beta (TRIF) and led to persistent phosphorylation of receptor-interacting protein 3 (Rip3) kinase, which resulted in potent necroptosis. Although various IFN-regulatory factors (IRFs) facilitated the induction of necroptosis in response to IFN-beta, IRF-9-STAT1- or -STAT2-deficient macrophages were highly resistant to necroptosis. Our results indicate that IFN-beta-induced necroptosis of macrophages proceeds through tonic IFN-stimulated gene factor 3 (ISGF3) signaling, which leads to persistent expression of STAT1, STAT2, and IRF9. Induction of IFNAR1/Rip3-dependent necroptosis also resulted in potent inflammatory pathology in vivo. These results reveal how IFN-I mediates acute inflammation through macrophage necroptosis.