Herpes simplex virus type 1 latency-associated transcripts suppress viral replication and reduce immediate-early gene mRNA levels in a neuronal cell line.

ABSTRACT: During herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) latent infection in human dorsal root ganglia, limited viral transcription, which has been linked to HSV-1 reactivation ability, takes place. To study the involvement of this transcription in HSV-1 replication in neuronal cells and consequently in viral latency, we constructed stably transfected neuronal cell lines containing (i) the entire HSV-1 latency transcriptionally active DNA fragment, (ii) the same DNA sequence with deletions of the latency-associated transcript (LAT) promoters, or (iii) the DNA coding sequence of the LAT domain. Replication of HSV-1 or a LAT-negative mutant was markedly repressed in the LAT-expressing cells, a phenomenon mediated by the LATs. To study the mechanism responsible for this effect, we examined LAT influence up

SUBMITTER: Mador N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC110070 | biostudies-literature | 1998 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature