Acute Chikungunya Infection Induces Vascular Dysfunction by Directly Disrupting Redox Signaling in Endothelial Cells.

ABSTRACT: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection is characterized by febrile illness, severe joint pain, myalgia, and cardiovascular complications. Given that CHIKV stimulates reactive oxygen species (ROS) and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, events that disrupt vascular homeostasis, we hypothesized that CHIKV induces arterial dysfunction by directly impacting redox-related mechanisms in vascular cells. Wild-type (WT) and iNOS knockout (iNOS^-/-) mice were administered either CHIKV (1.0 × 10⁶ PFU/µL) or Mock vehicle via the intracaudal route. In vivo, CHIKV infection induced vascular dysfunction (assessed by a wire myograph), decreased systolic blood pressure (tail-cuff plethysmography), increased IL-6 and IFN-γ, but not TNF-α levels (determined by ELISA), and increased

SUBMITTER: Oliveira-Neto JT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11544861 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature