title: [Viral theory of atherosclerosis. Role of cytomegalovirus].
abstract: The multifactorial aetiology of atherosclerosis is nowadays well established. In parallel with confirmation of the lipidic hypothesis, a tumoral theory for this pathology was built up during the past decade. This theory considers atheroma a benign tumor. Among agents that can induce cell proliferation, oncogenic viruses seem to be the most efficient. In this review, we present several works suggesting viral involvement in atherosclerosis. The viral theory is based not only on clinical and epidemiologic data, but also on cell and molecular biology research. These three complementary approaches have established a relationship between herpes viruses and the atherogenic process. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) seems to be the suspect in human atherosclerosis. Several studies of the effects of CMV on cells involved in atheroma, especially smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells, are consistent with a possible role of this virus in atherosclerosis. This paper presents not only recent research developments in this increasingly explored field, but also questions that remain to be elucidated and the consequences of the viral theory of atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Centre de médecine préventive, Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bayad
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Galteau
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Siest
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D003587:Cytomegalovirus; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D011184:Postoperative Period; D018139:Simplexvirus
vernacular_title: Théorie virale de l'athérosclérose. Place du cytomégalovirus.