title: Mouse cytomegalovirus antigenic immune stimulation is sufficient to aggravate atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic mice.
abstract: We have previously demonstrated that mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection aggravates atherosclerosis by stimulating the ongoing inflammatory process in the vascular wall. Here we investigated whether MCMV antigenic immune stimulation by UV-MCMV injection is sufficient to aggravate atherosclerosis. In addition we analyzed whether low viral doses are sufficient to stimulate atherosclerosis. Therefore, apoE(-/-) mice received a low dose injection with infectious virus (MCMV) or replication-deficient virus (UV-inactivated MCMV, UV-MCMV). Atherosclerosis progression, influx of inflammatory cells in atherosclerotic lesions and internal organs and the number of MCMV DNA copies in various organs were determined at 2 weeks after injection. After injection with infectious virus, MCMV DNA was present in internal organs, while no MCMV DNA could be detected after UV-MCMV injection. Interestingly, both MCMV and UV-MCMV significantly increased mean atherosclerotic lesion area and T cell number in the atherosclerotic lesions, while only MCMV infection increased T cell numbers in the internal organs. These data indicate that in apoE(-/-) mice both low dose infectious MCMV as well as MCMV antigenic injections are sufficient for atherosclerosis aggravation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University, The Netherlands. ivl@lmib.azm.nl
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vliegen
authors.forename: Selma B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Herngreen
authors.forename: Gert E L M
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Grauls
authors.forename: Cathrien A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Bruggeman
authors.forename: Frank R M
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Stassen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D001011:Aorta / Q000821:virology; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000150:complications; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral