Herpes Zoster Causes Stroke Due to Exosomes
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21 Jun 2023 08:23:15 am.
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The study, published recently in TheJournal of Infectious Diseases, detailed the mechanisms behind the linkbetween herpes zoster and stroke.<o:p></o:p>
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Dr. Andrew Bubak, lead author of the studyand assistant research professor in the Department of Neurology at theUniversity of Colorado School of Medicine, said: "Most people know thatherpes zoster produces painful skin rashes, but they may not know that the riskof stroke increases one year after infection. Importantly, the rash usuallyheals completely and patients feel normal, but despite this, they have asignificantly increased risk of stroke when walking."<o:p></o:p>
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Herpes zoster (HZ) is caused by the varicellazoster virus. The virus remains in ganglion neurons and can reactivate, causingintense pain. But researchers have found that herpes zoster also increases therisk of stroke, especially for those under 40 years of age, herpes zostervaccination is not generally recommended. People with rash on their faces areat greatest risk, probably because they are close to their brains. To betterunderstand its working principle, Bubak and his team began to look more closelyat exosomes.<o:p></o:p>
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"Exosomes carry pathogenic substancesthat can cause thrombosis and inflammation away from the actual site ofinfection," Bubak said. "This could eventually lead to a stroke inthe patient."<o:p></o:p>
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Plasma samples were collected from 13herpes zoster patients and 10 non-herpes zoster patients. Samples were drawn atthe time of infection and at 3-month follow-up, and exosomes were extractedfrom plasma. The researchers found that prothrombotic exosomes may causethrombosis in infected patients. At 3-month follow-up, they also found pro-inflammatoryexosomes, which also posed a risk of stroke.<o:p></o:p>
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Bubak says the results suggest that in asubset of herpes zoster patients, the virus may not return to latency, orcirculating exosomes that induce a prolonged thrombotic state may persist, evenafter treatment is completed and the rash disappears. He says chronic use ofantiviral drugs combined with antiplatelet and anti-inflammatory drugs mayhelp.<o:p></o:p>
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"There are also initiatives toincrease the uptake of HZ vaccines to reduce the risk of stroke, especially inindividuals with known risk factors for stroke," Bubak said. “If thesefindings are confirmed in larger longitudinal studies, then this may changeclinical practice.â€<o:p></o:p>
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Most doctors do not know the link betweenherpes zoster and stroke, and herpes zoster has an effective vaccine.<o:p></o:p>
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"But this is really important andeasily relieved," Bubak said. "Let them go home with antiplateletagents.â€<o:p></o:p>
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Collected by Creative Biostructure, thatprovides a wide range of products including exosomesisolated from cancer cell lines, exosomes isolated from stem cell lines,exosomes isolated from immune-related cell lines, exosomes isolated fromgeneral cell lines, exosomes isolated from body fluids, fluorescentexosomes/microvesicles, as well as lyophilized microvesicles.<o:p></o:p>
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