Although the HCMV UL36-encoded viral inhibitor of caspase-8 activation (vICA) directly blocks the cleavage of procaspase-8 (32, 33), UL36 transcripts are not detected during the establishment of a quiescent infection in monocytes (28, 34), suggesting a yet-to-be-identified mechanism through which HCMV suppresses extrinsic apoptosis. Here, CASP8 is linked to infection.