Melnick J L, Adam E, DeBakey M E
Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030-3498, USA.
Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz). 1996;44(5-6):297-302.
The investigations reviewed in this paper provide evidence that a member of the herpesvirus family can cause atherosclerosis in chickens. In vitro experiments, as well as studies of arteries from infected birds, suggest that a virus-induced alteration of cellular metabolism, which results in the accumulation of cholesterol and cholesteryl esters, may be the primary mechanism in development of viral atherosclerosis. In addition, the fact that the same avian virus induces a malignant lymphoma suggests that it may also have the potential to stimulate the proliferation of other cells, notably arterial smooth muscle cells. The evidence for involvement of one or more members of the herpesvirus family in human atherosclerosis is much more circumstantial. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is prevalent, increasing with age, so that a majority of the human population becomes infected by adulthood. As with other herpesviruses, the infection with CMV is usually subclinical or latent. Although the sites of latency for CMV have not been established, both smooth muscle and leukocytes are likely possibilities. The observations of viral antigens and nucleic sequences, but not infectious virus, in arterial smooth muscle cells suggests that latent CMV infection of the arterial wall may be common in patients with atherosclerosis.
本文所综述的研究提供了证据，证明疱疹病毒家族的一个成员可在鸡身上引发动脉粥样硬化。体外实验以及对受感染禽类动脉的研究表明，病毒诱导的细胞代谢改变导致胆固醇和胆固醇酯的积累，这可能是病毒性动脉粥样硬化发展的主要机制。此外，同一禽病毒诱发恶性淋巴瘤这一事实表明，它也可能有刺激其他细胞增殖的潜力，尤其是动脉平滑肌细胞。疱疹病毒家族的一个或多个成员参与人类动脉粥样硬化的证据则更多是间接的。巨细胞病毒（CMV）很常见，且随年龄增长而增加，以至于大多数人在成年时都会受到感染。与其他疱疹病毒一样，CMV感染通常是亚临床的或潜伏的。尽管尚未确定CMV的潜伏部位，但平滑肌和白细胞都很有可能。在动脉平滑肌细胞中观察到病毒抗原和核酸序列，但未观察到传染性病毒，这表明动脉壁的潜伏性CMV感染在动脉粥样硬化患者中可能很常见。
