title: Novel functions of viral anti-apoptotic factors.
abstract: Cellular apoptosis is of major importance in the struggle between virus and host. Although many viruses use various strategies to control the cell death machinery by encoding anti-apoptotic virulence factors, it is now becoming clear that, in addition to their role in inhibiting apoptosis, these factors function in multiple immune and metabolic pathways to promote fitness and pathogenesis. In this Progress article, we discuss novel functions of viral anti-apoptotic factors in the regulation of autophagy, in the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway and in interferon signalling, with a focus on persistent and oncogenic gammaherpesviruses. If viral anti-apoptotic proteins are to be properly exploited as targets for antiviral drugs, their diverse and complex roles should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA.
authors.forename: Chengyu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST Institute for the Biocentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 305-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Byung-Ha
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA.
authors.forename: Jae U
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Jung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001343:Autophagy; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D050835:Interferon Regulatory Factors; D007372:Interferons; D051379:Mice; D016328:NF-kappa B; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014764:Viral Proteins; D014777:Virus Diseases
chemical_list: D050835:Interferon Regulatory Factors; D016328:NF-kappa B; D014764:Viral Proteins; D007372:Interferons