Aberrant methylation limits antitumoral inflammation in lung adenocarcinoma by restricting RIPK3 expression

Sci Adv. 2026 Jan 23;12(4):eadz9227. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adz9227. Epub 2026 Jan 21.

Abstract

Evasion of programmed cell death is a critical hallmark of cancer. However, the contribution of inflammatory forms of cell death in lung carcinogenesis and their effects on the composition of the tumor-immune microenvironment remain unclear. Our multi-omics analyses of samples from patients with primary lung adenocarcinoma revealed that necrosome signaling is repressed because of reduced expression of receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3). Distinct methylation signatures, both in the RIPK3 promoter and nonpromoter regions, correlated with lower transcription levels of RIPK3. This resulted in limited expression of inflammatory genes, advanced histologic features, reduced immune cell invasion, and decreased patient survival. Mechanistically, we confirmed the tumor-suppressive role of necrosome signaling through the genetic deletion of Ripk3 in two independent, clinically relevant mouse models of lung adenocarcinoma. Functionally, RIPK3 shaped a diverse immune environment by promoting the invasion of innate and adaptive immune cells in patient samples and experimental mice. Thus, RIPK3-mediated inflammatory signaling enhances a diverse immune microenvironment and hinders progression in lung adenocarcinoma.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung* / genetics
  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung* / immunology
  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung* / metabolism
  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung* / pathology
  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA Methylation*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • Inflammation* / genetics
  • Inflammation* / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms* / immunology
  • Lung Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Mice
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases* / genetics
  • Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases* / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Tumor Microenvironment / genetics
  • Tumor Microenvironment / immunology

Substances

  • Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • RIPK3 protein, human