A study of the participation of viral anti-apoptotic factor in the pathogenesis of developmental brain disorders induced by viral infection

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Virus-derived anti-apoptotic protein not only blocks cell death, but also establishes persistent infection, resulting in functional disturbances and malignant transformation of host cells. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) persistently infects developing cerebral neurons, and is the leading viral cause of developmental brain disorders in humans. In this study, we have investigated the impact of M45 protein, a representative of CMV-derived anti-apoptotic proteins, on the development of cerebral neurons. Wild type CMV inhibited the arborization of dendrites in developing neurons, however, M45-deleted CMV did not. This result indicates that M45 protein not only blocks cell death, but also disturbs neuronal development.