Caspase-8 and FADD prevent spontaneous ZBP1 expression and necroptosis

Caspase-8 and FADD play key roles in the regulation of cell death by necroptosis. The absence of either protein results in early embryonic lethality due to the activation of the kinase RIPK3 and its phosphorylation of the necroptosis executioner, MLKL. We genetically engineered and characterized a mouse model to monitor MLKL phosphorylation in the absence of necroptosis in vivo. Ablation of caspase-8 or FADD resulted in the transcriptional upregulation in several tissues of ZBP1, a cytosolic nucleic acid sensor capable of activating RIPK3, and ZBP1 was required for spontaneous phosphorylation of MLKL. Our findings provide a novel mechanism by which the FADD-Caspase-8 complex prevents necroptosis. Here we performed RNAseq screening to identify gene expression in the absence or presence of Caspase-8 or FADD