Table 3.

Functions of KSHV viral proteins

Latent phase proteins	Functions
LANA 1,2	Establish and maintain the latency in KSHV infected cells, bind directly to p53 and pRb [148].
Kaposin A, B	Induce the expression of growth factor receptors, possible transformation activity [151].
vcyclin	Forms a complex with CDK-6 to inactivate the Rb protein, promoting cell cycle progression and proliferation [152]. Induces apoptosis independent of p53 [153].
vFLIP	Blocks caspase 8 activation [154], potent activator of NFκB [154].
Lytic phase proteins
ORF50 (RTA)	Regulates the lytic replication [155].
K1	Activator of the molecules that mimic signaling via the B cell antigen receptor [156].
K8	Regulates lytic-cycle DNA replication [157].
K3, K5	Mediate the down regulation of several immunomodulatory proteins, including CD86, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1; CD54), and IFN-R [158].
vIL-6	Induces angiogenesis and tumorigenesis by regulating PI3K/PTEN/AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway [159].
vIRF-1	Binds and inhibits pro-death activities of proteins Bid and Bim [160].
vMIPs	Binds to chemokine receptors and induce angiogenesis [161].
vGPCR	Transformation activity; promotes the secretion the growth factors, such as VEGF, bFGF, IL-8, and IL-6 [162].
vBcl-2	Inhibits apoptosis [163].