Mechanisms and Functions of Necroptosis in Host Defense and Tissue Homeostasis

Francis Ka-Ming Chan

Zhejiang University Medical Center

Zhejiang University Second Affiliated Hospital

Zhejiang University School of Basic Medical Sciences

Necroptosis is a form of immunogenic cell death (ICD) that is strongly associated with many inflammatory diseases.  Receptor Interacting Protein Kinase 3 (RIPK3) plays a central role in the induction of necroptosis.  Consistent with its pro-inflammatory function, RIPK3 and other necroptosis signal adaptors have key roles in host defense against pathogens.  In response, pathogens have developed strategies to interfere with RIPK3 and necroptosis.  In addition, RIPK3 and related signal adaptors can stimulate inflammation independent of its cell death-inducing activity.   In this seminar, we will discuss the molecular mechanisms that regulate RIPK3 and necroptosis.  We will also discuss the roles of RIPK3 and other necroptosis signal adaptors in host defense against pathogens, in tissue homeostasis and the potential of targeting necroptosis in therapies against inflammatory diseases.

Personal Biosketch

Francis Ka-Ming Chan, a native of Hong Kong, received his PhD degree in Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of California, Berkeley.  He received the Miriam & Benedict Wolf Fellowship from the Cancer Research Institute to conduct postdoctoral research at the National Institutes of Health (USA).  Professor Chan started his independent research group at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, where he rose through the ranks to become Full Professor.  In 2018, he was recruited to the Department of Immunology at Duke University School of Medicine, where he served as Full Professor and Vice Chair of Research.  In 2022, he joined the Zhejiang University Liangzhu Laboratory as Principal Investigator.  Professor Chan’s research centers around the role of cell death in immune signaling, inflammation, and host-pathogen interaction.  

Time: 14:00 – 15:30 , September 21th (Thursday)

Venue: Room D326, Medical Science Building

Host: Dr. Zhihua Liu