Role of herpesviruses in coronary artery disease

Agam Bansal, Debasis Biswas

Heart India 2018 6(3):75-80

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a huge global burden and is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality across the world. We have done this review to elucidate the pathogenesis of herpesviruses in causing CAD and to study an association between herpesviruses (cytomegalovirus [CMV] and herpes simplex virus [HSV-1 and -2]) and CAD. CMV can cause atherosclerosis directly through the activity of its gene products on endothelial cells, monocytes/macrophages, and smooth muscle cells and indirectly through production of pro-inflammatory cytokines at far off place. HSV infection causes atherosclerosis mainly by causing increased prothrombotic activity on endothelial cells, accumulation of cholesterol esters and triacylglycerols in vascular smooth muscle cells, and upregulating expression of Lectin like oxidized Low density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) receptor on macrophages. The association between CMV and CAD is related to its seroprevalence with a positive association in developing countries (higher seroprevalence) and no significant association in developed countries (lower seroprevalence). However, the association between HSV infection and atherosclerosis is not related to its seroprevalence.

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