Molecular insights into RIPK-family regulation of programmed cell death in pancreatic pathologies
Pancreatic diseases, including acute pancreatitis (AP), chronic pancreatitis (CP), and pancreatic cancer (PC), represent significant threats to human health, with programmed cell death (PCD) playing a pivotal role in their pathogenesis and progression. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the molecular mechanisms by which receptor-interacting protein kinase (RIPK) family members regulate PCD and their pathophysiological roles in various pancreatic diseases. In AP, RIPK3-mediated necroptosis is a key factor in acinar cell damage and the exacerbation of systemic inflammation. In CP, RIPK family members contribute to the progression from chronic inflammation to fibrosis through modulation of the NF-κB pathway and loss of parenchymal cells. In the context of PC, dysregulated expression of RIPK1/3 is strongly linked to tumor progression and chemoresistance, with the induction of necroptosis emerging as a promising strategy to overcome apoptosis resistance. Additionally, this review discusses the potential clinical value of RIPK3 and phosphorylated mixed lineage kinase domain-like pseudokinase as biomarkers for necroptosis, as well as recent advancements in RIPK1 kinase inhibitors in clinical trials. A deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing RIPK-mediated cell death not only sheds light on the pathogenic progression of pancreatic diseases but also lays the groundwork for precision anti-inflammatory interventions and the development of novel therapeutic targets.
- Solakoglu T, Kucukmetin NT, Akar M, Koseoglu H. Acute peripancreatic fluid collection in acute pancreatitis: Incidence, outcome, and association with inflammatory markers. Saudi J Gastroenterol. 2023;29(4):225-232. doi: 10.4103/sjg.sjg_443_22
- Chen W, Imasaka M, Lee M, Fukui H, Nishiura H, Ohmuraya M. Reg family proteins contribute to inflammation and pancreatic stellate cells activation in chronic pancreatitis. Sci Rep. 2023;13(1):12201. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-39178-3
- Padoan A, Plebani M, Basso D. Inflammation and Pancreatic Cancer: Focus on Metabolism, Cytokines, and Immunity. Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(3):676. doi: 10.3390/ijms20030676
- Sankaran SJ, Xiao AY, Wu LM, Windsor JA, Forsmark CE, Petrov MS. Frequency of progression from acute to chronic pancreatitis and risk factors: a meta-analysis. Gastroenterology. 2015;149(6):1490-1500.e1. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2015.07.066
- Kirkegård J, Mortensen FV, Cronin-Fenton D. Chronic Pancreatitis and Pancreatic Cancer Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2017;112(9):1366- 1372. doi: 10.1038/ajg.2017.218
- Cuny GD, Degterev A. RIPK protein kinase family: Atypical lives of typical kinases. Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2021;109:96- 105. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2020.06.014
- Zhang D, Lin J, Han J. Receptor-interacting protein (RIP) kinase family. Cell Mol Immunol. 2010;7(4):243-249. doi: 10.1038/cmi.2010.10
- Lv S, Jiang Y, Li Y, et al. Comparative and evolutionary analysis of RIP kinases in immune responses. Front Genet. 2022;13:796291. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2022.796291
- Urwyler-Rösselet C, Tanghe G, Devos M, Hulpiau P, Saeys Y, Declercq W. Functions of the RIP kinase family members in the skin. Cell Mol Life Sci CMLS. 2023;80(10):285. doi: 10.1007/s00018-023-04917-2
- Clucas J, Meier P. Roles of RIPK1 as a stress sentinel coordinating cell survival and immunogenic cell death. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2023;24(11):835-852. doi: 10.1038/s41580-023-00623-w
- Moriwaki K, Chan FK. RIP3: a molecular switch for necrosis and inflammation. Genes Dev. 2013;27(15):1640-1649. doi: 10.1101/gad.223321.113
- Newton K, Strasser A, Kayagaki N, Dixit VM. Cell death. Cell. 2024;187(2):235-256. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.11.044
- Sahoo G, Samal D, Khandayataray P, Murthy MK. A Review on Caspases: Key Regulators of Biological Activities and Apoptosis. Mol Neurobiol. 2023;60(10):5805-5837. doi: 10.1007/s12035-023-03433-5
- Yuan J, Amin P, Ofengeim D. Necroptosis and RIPK1- mediated neuroinflammation in CNS diseases. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2019;20(1):19-33. doi: 10.1038/s41583-018-0093-1
- Piamsiri C, Maneechote C, Siri-Angkul N, Chattipakorn SC, Chattipakorn N. Targeting necroptosis as therapeutic potential in chronic myocardial infarction. J Biomed Sci. 2021;28(1):25. doi: 10.1186/s12929-021-00722-w
- Degterev A, Ofengeim D, Yuan J. Targeting RIPK1 for the treatment of human diseases. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2019;116(20):9714-9722. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1901179116
- Hsu H, Huang J, Shu HB, Baichwal V, Goeddel DV. TNF-dependent recruitment of the protein kinase RIP to the TNF receptor-1 signaling complex. Immunity. 1996;4(4):387-396.doi: 10.1016/s1074-7613(00)80252-6
- Annibaldi A, Wicky John S, Vanden Berghe T, et al. Ubiquitin-Mediated Regulation of RIPK1 Kinase Activity Independent of IKK and MK2. Mol Cell. 2018;69(4):566- 580.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2018.01.027
- Kanayama A, Seth RB, Sun L, et al. TAB2 and TAB3 activate the NF-kappaB pathway through binding to polyubiquitin chains. Mol Cell. 2004;15(4):535-548. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2004.08.008
- Rahighi S, Ikeda F, Kawasaki M, et al. Specific recognition of linear ubiquitin chains by NEMO is important for NF-kappaB activation. Cell. 2009;136(6):1098-1109. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2009.03.007
- Lafont E, Draber P, Rieser E, et al. TBK1 and IKKε prevent TNF-induced cell death by RIPK1 phosphorylation. Nat Cell Biol. 2018;20(12):1389-1399. doi: 10.1038/s41556-018-0229-6
- Micheau O, Tschopp J. Induction of TNF receptor I-mediated apoptosis via two sequential signaling complexes. Cell. 2003;114(2):181-190. doi: 10.1016/s0092-8674(03)00521-x
- Annibaldi A, Meier P. Checkpoints in TNF-Induced Cell Death: Implications in Inflammation and Cancer. Trends Mol Med. 2018;24(1):49-65. doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2017.11.002
- Kataoka T, Tschopp J. N-terminal fragment of c-FLIP(L) processed by caspase 8 specifically interacts with TRAF2 and induces activation of the NF-kappaB signaling pathway. Mol Cell Biol. 2004;24(7):2627-2636. doi: 10.1128/mcb.24.7.2627-2636.2004
- Tummers B, Mari L, Guy CS, et al. Caspase-8-Dependent Inflammatory Responses Are Controlled by Its Adaptor, FADD, and Necroptosis. Immunity. 2020;52(6):994-1006.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2020.04.010
- Peltzer N, Darding M, Walczak H. Holding RIPK1 on the Ubiquitin Leash in TNFR1 Signaling. Trends Cell Biol. 2016;26(6):445-461. doi: 10.1016/j.tcb.2016.01.006
- Gerlach B, Cordier SM, Schmukle AC, et al. Linear ubiquitination prevents inflammation and regulates immune signalling. Nature. 2011;471(7340):591-596. doi: 10.1038/nature09816
- Koerner L, Li X, Silnov E, Laurien L, Pasparakis M. RIPK1 autophosphorylation at S161 mediates cell death and inflammation. J Exp Med. 2025;222(12). doi: 10.1084/jem.20250279
- Zhou Y, Xiang Y, Liu S, et al. RIPK3 signaling and its role in regulated cell death and diseases. Cell Death Discov. 2024;10(1):200. doi: 10.1038/s41420-024-01957-w
- Karlowitz R, van Wijk SJL. Surviving death: emerging concepts of RIPK3 and MLKL ubiquitination in the regulation of necroptosis. FEBS J. 2023;290(1):37-54. doi: 10.1111/febs.16255
- Laurien L, Nagata M, Schünke H, et al. Autophosphorylation at serine 166 regulates RIP kinase 1-mediated cell death and inflammation. Nat Commun. 2020;11(1):1747. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-15466-8
- Cho YS, Challa S, Moquin D, et al. Phosphorylation-driven assembly of the RIP1-RIP3 complex regulates programmed necrosis and virus-induced inflammation. Cell. 2009;137(6):1112-1123. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2009.05.037
- Zhang DW, Shao J, Lin J, et al. RIP3, an energy metabolism regulator that switches TNF-induced cell death from apoptosis to necrosis. Science. 2009;325(5938):332-336. doi: 10.1126/science.1172308
- Peng R, Wang CK, Wang-Kan X, et al. Human ZBP1 induces cell death-independent inflammatory signaling via RIPK3 and RIPK1. EMBO Rep. 2022;23(12):e55839. doi: 10.15252/embr.202255839
- Koerner L, Wachsmuth L, Kumari S, et al. ZBP1 causes inflammation by inducing RIPK3-mediated necroptosis and RIPK1 kinase activity-independent apoptosis. Cell Death Differ. 2024;31(7):938-953. doi: 10.1038/s41418-024-01321-6
- Seya T, Shime H, Takaki H, Azuma M, Oshiumi H, Matsumoto M. TLR3/TICAM-1 signaling in tumor cell RIP3-dependent necroptosis. Oncoimmunology. 2012;1(6):917-923. doi: 10.4161/onci.21244
- Vince JE, Wong WW, Gentle I, et al. Inhibitor of apoptosis proteins limit RIP3 kinase-dependent interleukin-1 activation. Immunity. 2012;36(2):215-227. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2012.01.012
- Lawlor KE, Khan N, Mildenhall A, et al. RIPK3 promotes cell death and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the absence of MLKL. Nat Commun. 2015;6:6282. doi: 10.1038/ncomms7282
- Kuriakose T, Man SM, Malireddi RK, et al. ZBP1/DAI is an innate sensor of influenza virus triggering the NLRP3 inflammasome and programmed cell death pathways. Sci Immunol. 2016;1(2). doi: 10.1126/sciimmunol.aag2045
- You J, Wang Y, Chen H, Jin F. RIPK2: a promising target for cancer treatment. Front Pharmacol. 2023;14:1192970. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1192970
- Chan LP, Tseng YP, Wang HC, et al. Growth Regulated Oncogene-α Upregulates TNF-α and COX-2 and Activates NOD1/RIPK2 mediated-MAPK Pathway in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. J Cancer. 2023;14(6):989-1000. doi: 10.7150/jca.82300
- Jiao J, Ruan L, Cheng CS, Wang F, Yang P, Chen Z. Paired protein kinases PRKCI-RIPK2 promote pancreatic cancer growth and metastasis via enhancing NF-κB/JNK/ERK phosphorylation. Mol Med. 2023;29(1):47. doi: 10.1186/s10020-023-00648-z
- Zheng S, Li Y, Song X, et al. OTUD1 ameliorates cerebral ischemic injury through inhibiting inflammation by disrupting K63-linked deubiquitination of RIP2. J Neuroinflammation. 2023;20(1):281. doi: 10.1186/s12974-023-02968-7
- Pandey AK, Yang Y, Jiang Z, et al. NOD2, RIP2 and IRF5 play a critical role in the type I interferon response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. PLoS Pathog. 2009;5(7):e1000500. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1000500
- Wronski N, Madej E, Grabacka M, Brożyna AA, Wolnicka- Glubisz A. RIPK4 downregulation impairs Wnt3A-stimulated invasiveness via Wnt/β-catenin signaling in melanoma cells and tumor growth in vivo. Cell Signal. 2024;113:110938. doi: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2023.110938
- Zhong GY, Tan JN, Huang J, et al. LncRNA LINC01537 Promotes Gastric Cancer Metastasis and Tumorigenesis by Stabilizing RIPK4 to Activate NF-κB Signaling. Cancers. 2022;14(21):5237. doi: 10.3390/cancers14215237
- Banks PA, Bollen TL, Dervenis C, et al. Classification of acute pancreatitis--2012: revision of the Atlanta classification and definitions by international consensus. Gut. 2013;62(1):102- 111. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2012-302779
- Petrov MS, Yadav D. Global epidemiology and holistic prevention of pancreatitis. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019;16(3):175-184. doi: 10.1038/s41575-018-0087-5
- Garg PK, Singh VP. Organ Failure Due to Systemic Injury in Acute Pancreatitis. Gastroenterology. 2019;156(7):2008- 2023. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2018.12.041
- He R, Wang Z, Dong S, Chen Z, Zhou W. Understanding Necroptosis in Pancreatic Diseases. Biomolecules. 2022;12(6):828. doi: 10.3390/biom12060828
- Belfrage H, Kuuliala K, Kuuliala A, et al. Circulating Markers of Necroptosis in Acute Pancreatitis. Dig Dis Sci. 2024;69(9):3333-3343. doi: 10.1007/s10620-024-08530-6
- Wu J, Mulatibieke T, Ni J, et al. Dichotomy between Receptor- Interacting Protein 1- and Receptor-Interacting Protein 3-Mediated Necroptosis in Experimental Pancreatitis. Am J Pathol. 2017;187(5):1035-1048. doi: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2016.12.021
- Louhimo J, Steer ML, Perides G. Necroptosis Is an Important Severity Determinant and Potential Therapeutic Target in Experimental Severe Pancreatitis. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2016;2(4):519-535. doi: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2016.04.002
- Duan PY, Ma Y, Li XN, et al. Inhibition of RIPK1-dependent regulated acinar cell necrosis provides protection against acute pancreatitis via the RIPK1/NF-κB/AQP8 pathway. Exp Mol Med. 2019;51(8):1-17. doi: 10.1038/s12276-019-0278-3
- Chan YC, Leung PS. Acute pancreatitis: animal models and recent advances in basic research. Pancreas. 2007;34(1):1-14. doi: 10.1097/01.mpa.0000246658.38375.04
- Takahashi N, Duprez L, Grootjans S, et al. Necrostatin-1 analogues: critical issues on the specificity, activity and in vivo use in experimental disease models. Cell Death Dis. 2012;3(11):e437. doi: 10.1038/cddis.2012.176
- He S, Wang L, Miao L, et al. Receptor interacting protein kinase-3 determines cellular necrotic response to TNF-alpha. Cell. 2009;137(6):1100-1111. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2009.05.021
- Liang QQ, Shi ZJ, Yuan T, et al. Celastrol inhibits necroptosis by attenuating the RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL pathway and confers protection against acute pancreatitis in mice. Int Immunopharmacol. 2023;117:109974. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.109974
- Kleeff J, Whitcomb DC, Shimosegawa T, et al. Chronic pancreatitis. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2017;3:17060. doi: 10.1038/nrdp.2017.60
- Whitcomb DC, Frulloni L, Garg P, et al. Chronic pancreatitis: An international draft consensus proposal for a new mechanistic definition. Pancreatology. 2016;16(2):218- 224. doi: 10.1016/j.pan.2016.02.001
- Diakopoulos KN, Lesina M, Wörmann S, et al. Impaired autophagy induces chronic atrophic pancreatitis in mice via sex- and nutrition-dependent processes. Gastroenterology. 2015;148(3):626-638.e17. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2014.12.003
- Zhou X, Xie L, Bergmann F, et al. The bile acid receptor FXR attenuates acinar cell autophagy in chronic pancreatitis. Cell Death Discov. 2017;3:17027. doi: 10.1038/cddiscovery.2017.27
- Xu Y, Ma H, Shao J, et al. A Role for Tubular Necroptosis in Cisplatin-Induced AKI. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2015;26(11):2647- 2658. doi: 10.1681/asn.2014080741
- Weiskirchen R, Weiskirchen S, Tacke F. Organ and tissue fibrosis: Molecular signals, cellular mechanisms and translational implications. Mol Asp Med. 2019;65:2-15. doi: 10.1016/j.mam.2018.06.003
- Sauler M, Bazan IS, Lee PJ. Cell Death in the Lung: The Apoptosis-Necroptosis Axis. Annu Rev Physiol. 2019;81:375- 402. doi: 10.1146/annurev-physiol-020518-114320
- Schwabe RF, Luedde T. Apoptosis and necroptosis in the liver: a matter of life and death. Nature reviews Gastroenterology & hepatology. 2018;15(12):738-752. doi: 10.1038/s41575-018-0065-y
- Huang H, Liu Y, Daniluk J, et al. Activation of nuclear factor-κB in acinar cells increases the severity of pancreatitis in mice. Gastroenterology. 2013;144(1):202-210. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2012.09.059
- Wu B, Qiang L, Zhang Y, et al. The deubiquitinase OTUD1 inhibits colonic inflammation by suppressing RIPK1-mediated NF-κB signaling. Cell Mol Immunol. 2022;19(2):276-289. doi: 10.1038/s41423-021-00810-9
- Stoop TF, Javed AA, Oba A, et al. Pancreatic cancer. Lancet. 2025;405(10485):1182-1202. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(25)00261-2
- Seifert L, Werba G, Tiwari S, et al. The necrosome promotes pancreatic oncogenesis via CXCL1 and Mincle-induced immune suppression. Nature. 2016;532(7598):245-249. doi: 10.1038/nature17403
- Ando Y, Ohuchida K, Otsubo Y, et al. Necroptosis in pancreatic cancer promotes cancer cell migration and invasion by release of CXCL5. PloS ONE. 2020;15(1):e0228015. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228015
- Yu L, Guo Q, Li Y, et al. CHMP4C promotes pancreatic cancer progression by inhibiting necroptosis via the RIPK1/ RIPK3/MLKL pathway. J Adv Res. 2025;77:653-668. doi: 10.1016/j.jare.2025.01.040
- Du W, Xu R, Chen P, Wen J, Sun L, Chen X. Salecan Suppresses Pancreatic Cancer Progression by Promoting Necroptosis via the RIPK1/MLKL Pathway. Nutrients. 2025;17(19):3090. doi: 10.3390/nu17193090
- Akimoto M, Maruyama R, Kawabata Y, Tajima Y, Takenaga K. Antidiabetic adiponectin receptor agonist AdipoRon suppresses tumour growth of pancreatic cancer by inducing RIPK1/ERK-dependent necroptosis. Cell Death Dis. 2018;9(8):804. doi: 10.1038/s41419-018-0851-z
- Ma N, Shangguan F, Zhou H, et al. 6-methoxydihydroavicine, the alkaloid extracted from Macleaya cordata (Willd.) R. Br. (Papaveraceae), triggers RIPK1/Caspase-dependent cell death in pancreatic cancer cells through the disruption of oxaloacetic acid metabolism and accumulation of reactive oxygen species. Phytomedicine. 2022;102:154164. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154164
- Belfrage H, Kuuliala K, Kuuliala A, et al. Circulating necroptosis markers in chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer: Associations with diagnosis and prognostic factors. Pancreatology. 2024;24(8):1229-1236. doi: 10.1016/j.pan.2024.11.016
- Calatayud D, Dehlendorff C, Boisen MK, et al. Tissue MicroRNA profiles as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in patients with resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and periampullary cancers. Biomark Res. 2017;5:8. doi: 10.1186/s40364-017-0087-6
- Cao L, Mu W. Necrostatin-1 and necroptosis inhibition: Pathophysiology and therapeutic implications. Pharmacol Res. 2021;163:105297. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105297
- Weisel K, Scott N, Berger S, et al. A randomised, placebo-controlled study of RIPK1 inhibitor GSK2982772 in patients with active ulcerative colitis. BMJ Open Gastroenterol. 2021;8(1):e000680. doi: 10.1136/bmjgast-2021-000680
- Liu M, Li H, Yang R, Ji D, Xia X. GSK872 and necrostatin-1 protect retinal ganglion cells against necroptosis through inhibition of RIP1/RIP3/MLKL pathway in glutamate-induced retinal excitotoxic model of glaucoma. J Neuroinflammation. 2022;19(1):262. doi: 10.1186/s12974-022-02626-4
- Harris PA, Marinis JM, Lich JD, et al. Identification of a RIP1 Kinase Inhibitor Clinical Candidate (GSK3145095) for the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer. ACS Med Chem Lett. 2019;10(6):857-862.doi: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.9b00108
- Cao Y, Zhao R, Guo K, et al. Potential Metabolite Biomarkers for Early Detection of Stage-I Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Front Oncol. 2021;11:744667. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.744667
- Mirus JE, Zhang Y, Hollingsworth MA, Solan JL, Lampe PD, Hingorani SR. Spatiotemporal proteomic analyses during pancreas cancer progression identifies serine/threonine stress kinase 4 (STK4) as a novel candidate biomarker for early stage disease. Mol Cell Proteom. 2014;13(12):3484- 3496. doi: 10.1074/mcp.M113.036517
- Hanada K, Minami T, Shimizu A, et al. Roles of ERCP in the Early Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer. Diagnostics. 2019;9(1):30. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics9010030
- Fan T, Ji Y, Chen D, Peng X, Ai J, Xiong B. Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of 4-aminoquinoline derivatives as receptor-interacting protein kinase 2 (RIPK2) inhibitors. J Enzym Inhib Med Chem. 2023;38(1):282-293. doi: 10.1080/14756366.2022.2148317
