Chronic non-vascular cytomegalovirus infection: effects on the neointimal response to experimental vascular injury

Abstract

CMV infection of young rats causes persistent infection of non-vascular tissues and increased cytokine levels. The neointimal response to subsequent vascular injury is increased, despite absence of virus from the vessel wall. These findings, as in acute infection following vascular injury, suggest that inflammatory and immune responses to chronic persistent CMV infection contribute to an exaggerated response to vascular injury.