title: Hantavirus immunology.
abstract: Two clinical syndromes are associated with hantavirus infection in humans: hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). Autopsy findings typically reveal a common feature of increased permeability in microvascular beds, suggesting vascular endothelium is a prime target for virus infection. Endothelial cells are susceptible to hantavirus infection; however, virus does not cause cytopathic effects, to explain increased endothelium permeability. Therefore, immune mechanisms were suggested to play a crucial role in hantavirus pathogenesis. In this review, we summarize data on hantavirus-induced immune disturbances and discuss their implication in capillary leakage caused by hantavirus infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Cell and Molecular Biology Program, School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89577, USA.
authors.forename: Svetlana F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Khaiboullina
authors.forename: Stephen C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: St  Jeor
mesh_terms: D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006476:Orthohantavirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D018804:Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006480:Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans