Coxsackievirus B3 Induces Apoptosis in the Early Phase of Murine Myocarditis: A Comparative Analysis of Cardiovirulent and Noncardiovirulent Strains

Abstract

These data indicate that (1) the cardiovirulent strain CVB3 induces more severe inflammation and apoptosis than the noncardiovirulent CVB3/0 strain, (2) viral replication is localized in inflammatory and apoptotic lesions in myocardial tissues, (3) apoptotic changes are observed in the early stages of myocarditis and (4) Bax may be associated with the apoptosis process in CVB3-induced myocarditis.