Detecting Necroptosis in Virus-Infected Cells.

Necroptosis has been implicated as a critical cell death pathway in cancers, Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases, and virus-infected cells. Necroptosis occurs when mixed-lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL) punctures the cytoplasmic membrane allowing a rapid influx of water leading to a loss of cellular integrity. As its role in human disease becomes apparent, methods identifying necroptosis will need to be further developed and optimized. Here we describe identification of necroptosis through quantifying cell death with pathway inhibitors and using western blots to identify end points of MLKL activation and protein-protein interactions leading to it.