SWAlexander
Senior Member
- Messages
- 2,049
Overview
- The endothelium, a single layer of epithelial cells, lines the inside of blood vessels and plays a crucial role in various processes such as blood flow control and clotting.
- Endothelial dysfunction, i.e. impaired function of the endothelium, has been demonstrated both in long COVID and ME/CFS, however there is speculation as to the causes.
- A recent review hypothesised that persistent herpesvirus infection may contribute to endothelial dysfunction and the persistence of symptoms, such as cognitive dysfunction, in ME/CFS.
- This hypothesis is bolstered by research showing similar physiological changes, such as reduced tissue perfusion (blood flow), associated with both herpesvirus infection and endothelial dysfunction.
- Herpesviruses, including Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and HHV-6, can remain in a latent (inactive) form in cells, with the potential for reactivation.
- These viruses may cause changes to the endothelium leading to endothelial dysfunction through complex processes involved in latency (becoming inactive), rather than through active infection.
- The authors advocate for future research to determine whether endothelial cells from individuals with ME/CFS (and controls) are infected with herpesviruses. This could advance our understanding of the disease.
continue: https://www.meresearch.org.uk/herpesviruses-endothelial-dysfunction-and-me-cfs/