LAT MiRNA Interferes With Host Cell Apoptosis
The paper on which this section is based has been retracted recently. Apparently mir-LAT is not a viral miRNA. See http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v451/n7178/full/nature06621.html for more details
Research has shown that a portion of HSV-1 LAT consists of an interfering micro RNA (miRNA). This miRNA was termed miR-LAT, and shown to downregulate Transforming Growth Factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and SMAD3. These effects block apoptosis, or normal programmed cell death. Further research has shown that HHV-8 LAT produces miRNA which interfere not with expression of TGF-β1 and SMAD3, but reducing the expression of Thrombospondin-1 protein (THBS-1). In turn, down-regulation of THBS-1 reduces production of TGF-β1 and SMAD3, suppressing apoptosis.
Other research showed that the products from the first 4,658 nucleotides of LAT inhibited caspase- 8 and caspase-9 cellular death factors.
Read more about this topic: HHV Latency Associated Transcript
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