Epstein-Barr virus BHRF1 functions downstream of Bid cleavage and upstream of mitochondrial dysfunction to inhibit TRAIL-induced apoptosis in BJAB cells.

We have previously reported that TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) causes cleavage of Bid via activation of caspase-8 and the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim), resulting in apoptosis. Experiments with BJAB clones expressing Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) anti-apoptotic protein BHRF1 showed that BHRF1 drastically inhibited TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. Although Western blot analysis demonstrated that TRAIL-induced Bid cleavage was not inhibited by BHRF1, the decrease in DeltaPsim caused by TRAIL was effectively blocked by BHRF1. These findings suggest that in BJAB cells, BHRF1 acts downstream of Bid cleavage and upstream of mitochondrial damage, resulting in inhibition of TRAIL-induced apoptosis.