A glucose kinase-independent HK2 activity prevents TNF-induced cell death by phosphorylating RIPK1

Tianhao Zou, Ran Liu, Gengqiao Wang, Guoliang Wang, Zhengting Jiang, Chuanzheng Wang, Weimin Wang, Mao Cai, Shuhua Zhang, Huan Cao, Di Zhang, Xueling Wang, Shenghe Deng, Tongxi Li and Jinyang Gu ()
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Tianhao Zou: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Ran Liu: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Gengqiao Wang: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Guoliang Wang: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Zhengting Jiang: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Chuanzheng Wang: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Weimin Wang: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Mao Cai: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Shuhua Zhang: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Huan Cao: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Di Zhang: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Xueling Wang: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Shenghe Deng: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Tongxi Li: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Jinyang Gu: Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-21

Abstract: Abstract Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced RIPK1-mediated cell death is implicated in various human diseases. However, the mechanisms RIPK1-mediated cell death is regulated by metabolic processes remain unclear. Here, we identify hexokinase 2 (HK2), a critical regulator of glycolysis, as a suppressor of TNF-induced RIPK1 kinase-dependent cell death through its non-metabolic function. HK2 inhibits RIPK1 kinase activity through constitutively phosphorylation at serine 32 of RIPK1. Inhibition of RIPK1 S32-phosphorylation results in RIPK1 kinase activation and subsequent cell death in response to TNFα stimulation. We further show that HK2 is elevated under pathological conditions including liver ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) via the transcriptional factor HMGA1. Moreover, the upregulation of HK2 in the liver confers protection against liver IR injury mediated by RIPK1 kinase, while depleting HK2 in HCC cells enhances TNFα-induced cell death and synergistically improves the efficacy of anti-PD1 therapy in an HCC model. Thus, the findings reveal a potential therapeutic avenue for RIPK1-related diseases through manipulating HK2 non-metabolic function.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-64939-1

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