The Bcr-Abl inhibitor GNF-7 inhibits necroptosis and ameliorates acute kidney injury by targeting RIPK1 and RIPK3 kinases.

Necroptosis is a form of programmed, caspase-independent cell death that is involved in various pathologic disorders such as ischemia/reperfusion injury, acute kidney injury and inflammatory bowel diseases. Identification of necroptosis inhibitors has great therapeutic potential for the treatment of necroptosis-associated diseases. In this study, we identified that the Bcr-Abl inhibitor GNF-7 was a potent inhibitor of necroptosis. GNF-7 inhibited necroptosis in both human and mouse cells, while not protecting cells from apoptosis. Drug affinity responsive target stability assay (DARTS) demonstrated that it binded with RIPK1 and RIPK3. GNF-7 inhibited RIPK1 and RIPK3 kinase activities and thus disrupted RIPK1-RIPK3 necrosome complex formation. In vivo, GNF-7 ameliorated both cisplatin- and ischemia/reperfusion-induced AKI. Orally administration of GNF-7 attenuated renal cell necrosis and reduced pro-inflammatory responses in mouse models of AKI. Taken together, our study shows that GNF-7 is a novel necroptosis inhibitor and has great potential for the treatment of acute renal inflammatory disorders by targeting both RIPK1 and RIPK3 kinases.