The receptor-interacting protein 1 (RIPK1)/RIPK3 kinases play important roles in necroptosis that is closely linked to inflammatory response. Although the activation of necroptosis is well characterized, how necroptosis is tuned down is largely unknown. Here, we found that Parkin (also known as PARK2 ), an E3 ubiquitin ligase implicated in Parkinson’s disease and a tumor suppressor, regulates necroptosis and inflammation by regulating necrosome formation. Parkin prevents the formation of the RIPK1-RIPK3 complex by promoting polyubiquitination of RIPK3. Parkin is phosphorylated and activated by the cellular energy sensor AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Parkin-deficiency potentiates the RIPK1-RIPK3 interaction, RIPK3 phosphorylation, and necroptosis. Importantly, Parkin deficiency enhances inflammation and inflammation-associated tumorigenesis. These findings demonstrate that the AMPK-Parkin axis negatively regulates necroptosis via inhibiting the RIPK1-RIPK3 complex formation and this regulation may serve as an important mechanism to fine-tune necroptosis and inflammation.

We found no evidence of a significant impact of autotransfusion on posttransplant HCC recurrence. Thus, salvaged and filtered RBCs could be used in HCC patients undergoing liver transplantation with potential benefits from avoiding allogeneic RBCs transfusion and its complications.

The Korean Hereditary Breast Cancer (KOHBRA) study was established to evaluate the prevalence and spectrum of BRCA1/2 mutations in Korean breast cancer patients at risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. A total of 2953 subjects (2403 index patients and 550 family members of affected carriers) from 36 centers participated in this study between May 2007 and December 2013. All participants received genetic counseling and BRCA genetic testing. In total, 378 mutation carriers among 2403 index patients were identified. The prevalence of BRCA mutations in specific subgroups was as follows: 22.3 % (274/1228) for breast cancer patients with a family history of breast/ovarian cancers, 8.8 % (39/441) for patients with early-onset (<35 years) breast cancer without a family history, 16.3 % (34/209) for patients with bilateral breast cancer, 4.8 % (1/21) for male patients with breast cancer, and 37.5 % (3/8) for patients with both breast and ovarian cancer. From an analysis of the mutation spectrum, 63 BRCA1 and 90 BRCA2 different mutations, including 44 novel mutations, were identified. The c.7480 (p.Arg2494Ter) mutation in BRCA2 (10.1 %) was the most commonly identified in this cohort. The KOHBRA study is the largest cohort to identify BRCA mutation carriers in Asia. The results suggest that the prevalence of BRCA mutations in familial breast cancer patients is similar to that among Western cohorts. However, some single risk factors without family histories (early-onset breast cancer, male breast cancer, or multiple organ cancers) may limit the utility of BRCA gene testing in the Korean population.