Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 107, Issue 10 , Pages 774-781, October 2008

Detection of Human Cytomegalovirus in Atherosclerotic Carotid Arteries in Humans

  • Li Yi
    • ,
  • De-Xin Wang

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Dr De-Xin Wang, Department of Neurology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, 95 Yong'an Street, Xuan Wu District, Beijing, China, 100050
    • ,
  • Zi-Jing Feng

Department of Neurology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

Received 10 January 2008; received in revised form 4 February 2008; accepted 9 May 2008.

Article Outline

Background/Purpose

Atherosclerosis plays an important role in stroke. A microbiological infection has been suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, in particular the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). The objective of this study was to determine the association between HCMV infection and atherosclerosis of the internal carotid arteries in patients of Chinese Han ethnicity with ischemic stroke.

Methods

HCMV DNA and antigen were detected in atherosclerotic internal carotid arteries from 35 patients with ischemic stroke and 20 controls from a Chinese Han ethnic population. Immunohisto-chemistry, in situ hybridization and polymerase chain reaction were used to detect the HCMV immediate early (IE) and late (L) antigen as well as DNA in the vascular walls.

Results

We observed that the proportion of cases that tested positive for HCMV IE but not L antigen and DNA was statistically greater in stroke patients compared with the control population.

Conclusion

HCMV IE antigen and DNA were associated with the pathological process of atherosclerosis. The vessel wall might be the infection site of the dormant virus.

Key Words:  atherosclerosis , carotid arteries , cytomegalovirus , immediate-early proteins , viral DNA

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PII: S0929-6646(08)60190-4

doi:10.1016/S0929-6646(08)60190-4

Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 107, Issue 10 , Pages 774-781, October 2008

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