CASPASE 8 inhibits programmed necrosis by processing CYLD

CASPASE 8 initiates apoptosis downstream of TNF death receptors by undergoing autocleavage and processing the executioner CASPASE 3(1). However, the dominant function of CASPASE 8 is to transmit a pro-survival signal that suppresses programmed necrosis (or necroptosis) mediated by RIPK1 and RIPK3(2–6) during embryogenesis and hematopoiesis(7–9). Suppression of necrotic cell death by CASPASE 8 requires its catalytic activity but not the autocleavage essential for apoptosis(10), however, the key substrate processed by CASPASE 8 to block necrosis has been elusive. A key substrate must meet three criteria: (1) it must be essential for programmed necrosis; (2) it must be cleaved by CASPASE 8 in situations where CASPASE 8 is blocking necrosis; and (3) mutation of the CASPASE 8 processing site on the substrate should convert a pro-survival response to necrotic death without the need for CASPASE 8 inhibition. We now identify CYLD as a novel substrate for CASPASE 8 that satisfies these criteria. Upon TNF stimulation, CASPASE 8 cleaves CYLD to generate a survival signal. In contrast, loss of CASPASE 8 prevented CYLD degradation resulting in necrotic death. A CYLD substitution mutation at D215 that cannot be cleaved by CASPASE 8 switches cell survival to necrotic cell death in response to TNF.