Cytomegalovirus-induced myocarditis - An animal model for understanding pathogenesis and therapy

Lenzo, J.C. and Lawson, C.M. (2001) Cytomegalovirus-induced myocarditis - An animal model for understanding pathogenesis and therapy. International Antiviral News, 9 (11). pp. 166-169.

Abstract

The inflammatory heart disease myocarditis leads to dilated cardiomyopathy and has been associated with a viral aetiology. The herpesvirus cytomegalovirus induces chronic myocarditis with the development of autoimmunity. Murine models of myocarditis are now well established. Murine cytomegalovirus, a natural pathogen of mice, induces both acute and chronic phases of myocarditis in the susceptible BALB/c mouse strain. Early treatment with the antiviral drugs ganciclovir and cidofovir has been shown to reduce the severity of myocarditis. However, treatment with antivirals in the late stages of infection has limited effectiveness for prevention of the chronic phase of disease. The immunological events in the progression to this chronic cardiac disease have been recently described. New knowledge of the immunopathogenesis of myocarditis can be utilized in the development of strategic antiviral and immunotherapeutic regimes.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Murdoch Affiliation(s):	School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
Publisher:	International Medical Press Ltd
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/16896

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