Mechanisms of vascular injury in the pathogenesis of infectious disease

Abstract

In the normal resting state the vascular endothelium provides an unbroken, semipermeable barrier to the blood that prevents thrombosis and does not appear to promote adhesion or activation of blood cells. These properties are changed in response to a variety of vascular perturbations or injury, including those caused by microorganisms. Vascular wall injury and vasculitis are characteristic of syndromes caused by certain bacteria, viruses, and other microbial pathogens. Here we will specifically focus on aspects of endothelial cell injury or dysfunction that are relevant to infectious diseases. Diverse mechanisms are involved, and we will review several of recent particular interest.