The human cytomegalovirus, also known as human herpesvirus 5 (HHV-5), has a worldwide distribution. It is transmissible via saliva, urine or semen. In Germany, donor blood is scanned for antibodies against the virus. Infected tissue is recognisable by massively enlarged cells (cytomegalovirus = "large cell virus"). The researchers estimate that half the German population has had contact with the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) at least once. An infection can be accompanied by fever and elevated liver values and last for weeks, however in most cases it remains unnoticed.

The scientists’ recent press release on their research describes how the human cytomegalovirus is able to block an important pathway in the inner lining of the vascular system, the endothelium. This inhibits the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) responsible for the endothelium’s vitality and regenerative capacity. The researchers say that the endothelium can therefore no longer sufficiently regenerate and communication between cells is interrupted.

The scientists used commercially available human endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells from coronary vessels, which they infected with the virus. They then used different methods to investigate cell mechanisms such as protein production, cell proliferation and migration, comparing normal cells with those in which they had knocked out the growth factor VEGFR-2 or inhibited its kinase.

The new findings show that the human cytomegalovirus promotes the development of arteriosclerosis (arterial calcification), which in the long term can lead to strokes and heart attacks.

The findings have been published in the journal “Cardiovascular Research”.

Original Paper:
Reinhardt, Barbara et al. (2014): Human cytomegalovirus infection Impairs endothelial cell chemotaxis by disturbing VEGF signaling and actin-polymerization. In: Cardiovascular Research. Published online on 16th September 2014 Doi: 10.1093 / cvr / cvu204

Source (in German):
http://idw-online.de/pages/de/news604347