Bidirectional Crosstalk Between cGAS-STING and Necroptosis: From Mitochondrial DNA Release to Inflammatory Disease

The cGAS-STING pathway, a cornerstone of cytosolic DNA sensing, and necroptosis, a pro-inflammatory regulated cell death modality, are increasingly recognized as intimately interconnected axes that profoundly influence disease pathogenesis. This review synthesizes current knowledge on their bidirectional crosstalk, emphasizing the molecular underpinnings and therapeutic implications. We detail how cGAS -STING activation can precipitate necroptosis through type I interferon and TNF-α synergy, as well as transcriptional upregulation of ZBP1, with mitochondrial damage and mtDNA release serving as critical upstream triggers. Reciprocally, in certain necroptotic settings, phosphorylated MLKL can permeabilize mitochondrial membranes to liberate mtDNA, although this is not yet established as an obligatory feature of all MLKL-dependent necroptosis, which activates cGAS-STING independently of plasma membrane rupture, while RIPK3 can drive mitochondrial dysfunction to similar effect. This reciprocal engagement often escalates into a self-amplifying feedback loop that drives chronic inflammation and tissue injury across diverse pathologies, including neurodegenerative disorders, sterile organ injury, and cancer, though it can also be harnessed for antitumor immunity. However, this crosstalk is context-dependent rather than uniformly amplifying: in some settings, STING activation restrains necroptosis, as observed during Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia and in human monocytes. The review further evaluates emerging pharmacological strategies that target this interface, ranging from direct inhibitors of STING or MLKL to agents that preserve mitochondrial integrity, and discusses the context-dependent challenges of therapeutic intervention. By framing the cGAS -STING-necroptosis axis as a central hub integrating innate immune sensing with inflammatory cell death, we underscore its significant potential as a therapeutic target for inflammation-associated diseases.