[Fluvastatin's effect on atherogenesis in apolipoprotein-E knockout mice infected by cytomegalovirus].

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to investigate whether murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) is able to exacerbate the atherosclerotic process in apolipoprotein E knockout (apoE -/-) mice, and the effect of fluvastatin on the atherogenesis. METHODS: The apoE-/- mice kept on a west diet were given low dosage of MCMV. At 14,18 and 24 weeks post infection, AS lesion were measured on aorta. The fluvastatin was administered, and AS lesion were measured accordingly above. RESULTS: We observed that in the chronic phase of the infection, AS lesion area was significantly increased. MCMV gB mRNA was not amplified by real-time PCR from the arterial wall. The IgG antibody level of MCMV in blood plasma and the content of virus DNA in salivary gland were not correlated with AS lesions. After the administration of fluvastatin, there was no significant difference of AS lesions between MCMV infected group and mock-infected group. CONCLUSION: MCMV may aggravate the AS lesion in apoE -/- mice in the chronic phase of infection, and promote more severe type of AS lesions. But it might not be the direct effects of mechanism of MCMV on the local lesion of AS. Fluvastatin could meliorate the progression of AS after MCMV infection, but this was not accomplished by decreasing MCMV duplication.

[Relationship between EB virus, Cytomegalo virus, herpes simplex virus and coxsackievirus infection and relapse of multiple sclerosis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the relation between the recent active infection with Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus,herpes simplex virus-1, coxsackievirus B I-IV and the relapse of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RR MS). METHODS: Using ELISA method, IgM antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus-1, coxsackievirus BI-IV in the plasma from 34 RR MS patients and 200 normal controls were detected. The rates of recent active infection with the above mentioned viruses of the patients and controls were compared.For patients group,comparison was also made between the clinical data of recent active infected patients and patients without recent active infection. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in positive rates of positive rates of IgM antibodies against Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus-1 and coxsackievirus BI, II, III or VI between the two groups. While there was statistically significant difference in positive rates of IgM antibodies to coxsackievirus B VI and V in the RR MS patients and those in the controls (being 3/34 and 0/200 P < 0.05; 2/34 and 0/200 P < 0.05, respectively). In the patient group, when patients who had active infection with any of the viruses were compared with those who had no active infection, no significant difference between them was found in terms of age, course, frequency, body temperature on admission, differential leukocyte count (neutrophilic granulocyte, lymphocyte and monocytes), use of glucocorticoids, and EDSS point value. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high rate of recent active infection with coxsackievirus B VI and V in RR MS patients at relapsing stage. While the recent virus active infection is unrelated to the severity of the symptoms.