Version 1
: Received: 18 January 2024 / Approved: 19 January 2024 / Online: 19 January 2024 (13:13:19 CET)
How to cite:
Nunes, J.M.; Kell, D.B.; Pretorius, E. Herpesvirus Infection as a Systemic Pathological Axis in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Preprints2024, 2024011486. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202401.1486.v1
Nunes, J.M.; Kell, D.B.; Pretorius, E. Herpesvirus Infection as a Systemic Pathological Axis in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Preprints 2024, 2024011486. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202401.1486.v1
Nunes, J.M.; Kell, D.B.; Pretorius, E. Herpesvirus Infection as a Systemic Pathological Axis in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Preprints2024, 2024011486. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202401.1486.v1
APA Style
Nunes, J.M., Kell, D.B., & Pretorius, E. (2024). Herpesvirus Infection as a Systemic Pathological Axis in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202401.1486.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Nunes, J.M., Douglas B Kell and Etheresia Pretorius. 2024 "Herpesvirus Infection as a Systemic Pathological Axis in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202401.1486.v1
Abstract
Understanding the pathophysiology of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is critical for advancing treatment options. This review explores the novel hypothesis that herpesviruses' infection of endothelial cells (ECs) may underlie ME/CFS symptomatology. We review evidence linking herpesviruses to persistent EC infection and the implications for endothelial dysfunction, encompassing blood flow regulation, coagulation, and cognitive impairment – symptoms consistent with ME/CFS and Long COVID. The paper provides a synthesis of current research on herpesvirus latency and reactivation, detailing the impact on ECs and subsequent systemic complications, including latent modulation and long-term maladaptation. We suggest that the chronicity of ME/CFS symptoms and the multisystemic nature of the disease may be partly attributable to herpesvirus-induced endothelial maladaptation. Our conclusions underscore the necessity for further investigation into the prevalence and load of herpesvirus infection within ECs of ME/CFS patients. This review offers a conceptual advance by proposing an endothelial infection model as a systemic mechanism contributing to ME/CFS, steering future research towards potentially unexplored avenues in understanding and treating this complex syndrome.
Medicine and Pharmacology, Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
