Anti-apoptotic function of a microRNA encoded by the HSV-1 latency-associated transcript (Nature (2006) 442, (82-85))

We claimed that there was a microRNA in the exon 1 region of the latency-associated transcript of herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) that downregulated the expression of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). We postulated that through this mechanism the virus prevented the latently infected cell from apoptosing.