Cytomegalovirus infection and vessel wall pathology

This review focuses on information regarding the cytomegalovirus (CMV) in relation to vessel wall pathology including clinical symptoms, pathogenesis and latency. Evidence obtained for involvement of CMV in vascular pathology will be summarized. CMV infection of vascular cells induces cell activation, which leads to expression of adhesion proteins, MHC molecules, cytokine receptors and the production of cytokines and growth factors. Furthermore, CMV infection enhances the inflammatory response and neointima formation in allograft vessels. From such data it can be hypothesized that there is apparently synergy between inflammatory processes and CMV infection. On the one hand, CMV infection leads to cellular activation, on the other hand inflammatory processes contribute to CMV infection. NF-kappa B-dependent activation may form a link between both processes as it would induce CMV replication and host cell activation. Thus, CMV may influence vascular pathology by enhancing the inflammatory process and cellular activation responses.