Viral IRFs 1, 3 and 4 are known to interact with ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7); interactions of vIRF-1 and vIRF-3 with USP7 promote PEL cell viability and regulate productive replication.
This study is the first to identify latent and lytic functions of vIRF-1 and vIRF-3, respectively, and to address the biological activities of these vIRFs through their interactions with USP7.<b>IMPORTANCE</b> HHV-8 is associated with Kaposi's sarcoma, primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), and multicentric Castleman's disease; both latent and lytic viral functions are believed to contribute.