Discussion
The endothelium consists of a monolayer of endothelial cells that line the entire vasculature. Its critical location allows endothelial cells to serve regulatory functions in inflammation and immune response. Some viruses have been shown to directly infect endothelial cells,and the activation/dysfunction of endothelial cells due to virus infection may contribute to the development of viral diseases. For example,dengue virus, hantavirus and Ebola virus have been evaluated for their ability to replicate in the endothelial cells in vitro.