T cells, B cells, monocytes appear to undergo apoptosis with VZV infection.

2003 NOV 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- T cells, B cells, and monocytes appear to undergo apoptosis when infected with varicella-zoster virus.

"Varicella-zoster virus (VZV), a member of Herpesviridae, subfamily alpha-Herpesviridae, is pathogenic exclusively in the human. Chickenpox is the result of primary infection of VZV," scientists writing in the journal Microbes and Infection report.

"During the viremic stage, VZV infects peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and spreads to the periphery. In skin cells, it causes typical lesions. Apoptosis has been demonstrated in different cell types by other alpha-herpesviruses. VZV-infected T lymphocytes, B …