A recent study applied necroptosis-specific detection and found that patients with COPD have remarkably increased phosphorylated RIPK3 (p-RIPK3) and p-MLKL in lung tissue homogenates relative to those without airflow limitation; furthermore, the differences remained substantial after adjusting for age, gender and current smoking status of patients [8]. Here, RIPK3 is linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.