%0 Journal Article %A Peri, Piritta %A Hukkanen, Veijo %A Nuutila, Kristiina %A Saukko, Pekka %A Abrahamson, Magnus %A Vuorinen, Tytti %T The cysteine protease inhibitors cystatins inhibit herpes simplex virus type 1-induced apoptosis and virus yield in HEp-2 cells %D 2007 %J Journal of General Virology, %V 88 %N 8 %P 2101-2105 %@ 1465-2099 %R https://doi.org/10.1099/vir.0.82990-0 %I Microbiology Society, %X The role of cystatins in herpes simplex virus (HSV)-induced apoptosis and viral replication has been studied. Human epithelial (HEp-2) cells infected with wild-type HSV-1 (F), with a deletion virus lacking the anti-apoptotic gene Us3 (R7041) or with a deletion virus lacking the anti-apoptotic genes Us3 and ICP4 (d120) were treated with cystatin A, C or D. Cells and culture media were studied at different time points for replicating HSV-1 and for apoptosis. Cystatins C and D inhibited the yield of replicative HSV-1 significantly in HEp-2 cells. In addition, cystatin D inhibited R7041 and d120 virus-induced apoptosis. Moreover, cystatin A inhibited R7041-induced apoptosis. These inhibitory effects of cystatins on virus replication and apoptosis are likely to be separate functions. Cystatin D treatment decreased cellular cathepsin B activity in HSV-1 infection, suggesting that cathepsin B is involved in virus-induced apoptosis. %U https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/vir.0.82990-0