Inhibition of breast cancer cell proliferation through disturbance of the calcineurin/NFAT pathway by human herpesvirus 6B U54 tegument protein.

Nuclear factor of activated T cell (NFAT) proteins are key regulators involved in multiple physiological mechanisms, such as immune response and cell growth. The capacity of selective calcineurin/NFAT inhibitors to decrease NFAT-dependent cancer cell progression, particularly in breast cancer, has already been demonstrated. In this study, we report a role for the human herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B) U54 tegument protein in inhibiting MCF-7 breast cancer cell proliferation by inhibiting NFAT activation.