Dyslipidemia and an elevated lipid level in the cells in experimental herpetic infection and their correction with antiviral chemotherapeutic agents

The influence of herpes simplex virus on lipid exchange and accumulation by blood vessels cells was studied. In acute herpes infection in rabbits, typical dyslipidemia characterised by a rise in the content of total cholesterol, low and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides in the absence of manifest changes in concentration of high density lipoprotein was detected. HSV infection of smooth muscle cell culture of human embryo aorta was accompanied by increased accumulation of free lipids in the cells. The use of antiherpetic preparations during the infection led to correction of the lipid spectrum of the infected animals and was accompanied by normalization of intracellular lipid contents. A possible pathogenetic role of HSV in atherogenesis which may be connected with at least two processes: the development of lipidemic disturbances and formation of pathologic lipid depot in the arterial wall, is discussed.