ISG15 negatively regulates RIPK3-mediated cell death and viral pathogenesis

Necroptosis, a form of programmed, inflammatory necrosis, plays an important role in viral-host defense and inflammation. The receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3)/mixed lineage kinase domain-like pseudokinase (MLKL) pathway mediates necroptosis. Yet, the mechanisms that control necroptosis to limit immunopathology are poorly understood. Here, we report that interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) negatively regulates RIPK3-mediated cell death, including necroptosis, and limits immunopathology during chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection. ISG15-deficient mice infected with CHIKV display increased levels of necroptosis, resulting in elevated proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine production, leading to increased lethality. This dysregulated host response is fully prevented when MLKL or RIPK3 is ablated in Isg15^-/- mice. Mechanistically, ISG15 non-covalently associates with the RIPK3 necrosome in an RIP homotypic interaction motif (RHIM)-dependent manner, regulating necroptosis downstream of CHIKV infection, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and poly(I:C) stimulation. These results demonstrate a role for ISG15 in limiting immunopathology during infection by modulating necroptosis-dependent inflammation and pathogenesis.