RIPK1 activates distinct gasdermins in macrophages and neutrophils upon pathogen blockade of innate immune signalling

Abstract

Injection of effector proteins to block host innate immune signalling is a common strategy used by many pathogenic organisms to establish an infection. Pathogenic Yersinia species for example inject the acetyltransferase YopJ into target cells to inhibit NF-{kappa}B and MAPK signalling. To counteract this, detection of YopJ activity in myeloid cells promotes the assembly of a RIPK1-caspase-8 death-inducing platform that confers antibacterial defence. While recent studies revealed that caspase-8 cleaves the pore-forming protein, gasdermin D (GSDMD) to trigger pyroptosis in macrophages, whether RIPK1 activates additional substrates downstream of caspase-8 to promote host defence is unclear. Here, we report that the related gasdermin family member gasdermin E (GSDME) is activated upon detection of YopJ activity in a RIPK1 kinase-dependent manner. Specifically, GSDME promotes neutrophil pyroptosis and IL-1{beta} release, which is critical for anti-Yersinia defence. During in vivo infection, IL-1{beta} neutralisation increases bacterial burden in wild type but not Gsdme-deficient mice. Thus, our study establishes GSDME as an important mediator that counteracts pathogen blockade of innate immune signalling.