AUTHOR=Mackow Erich R. , Gorbunova Elena E. , Gavrilovskaya Irina N. TITLE=Endothelial cell dysfunction in viral hemorrhage and edema JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology VOLUME=5 YEAR=2015 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2014.00733 DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2014.00733 ISSN=1664-302X ABSTRACT=

The endothelium maintains a vascular barrier by controlling platelet and immune cell interactions, capillary tone and interendothelial cell (EC) adherence. Here we suggest common elements in play during viral infection of the endothelium that alter normal EC functions and contribute to lethal hemorrhagic or edematous diseases. In viral reservoir hosts, infection of capillaries and lymphatic vessels may direct immunotolerance without disease, but in the absence of these cognate interactions they direct the delayed onset of human disease characterized by thrombocytopenia and vascular leakage in a severe endothelial dysfunction syndrome. Here we present insight into EC controls of hemostasis, immune response and capillary permeability that are altered by viral infection of the endothelium.