Suppression of apoptotic DNA fragmentation in herpes simplex virus type 1-infected cells

Abstract

HEp-2 cells underwent apoptosis when the cells were incubated in medium containing sorbitol. Infection with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) prior to the sorbitol treatment suppressed this apoptosis completely, indicating that HSV-1 carries an antiapoptosis gene. In addition, HSV-1 multiplication was restricted in these apoptotic HEp-2 cells.