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Streptococcus mutans endocarditis: distinct mechanisms of vegetations in
two models in mice
Abstract
Infective endocarditis (IE) is a severe cardiovascular disease
characterized by the formation of vegetations on heart valves. Our
previous research found that streptococcal endocarditis is more common
in elderly people and is prone to embolic complications leading to
adverse clinical outcomes. von Willebrand Factor (VWF) is a crucial
regulatory factor in the formation process and composition of vegetation
in bacterial endocarditis, but its mechanism remains to be elucidated.
This study investigated the role of VWF in the pathogenesis of
Streptococcus mutans-induced endocarditis using two distinct mouse
models: damage-induced and inflammation-induced endocarditis. We
employed histological analysis, immunofluorescence, scanning electron
microscopy, and molecular techniques to elucidate the mechanisms of
vegetation formation and the contribution of VWF in each model.Our
findings reveal significant differences in the timing and extent of VWF
involvement between the two models, with a more rapid and pronounced
role in the damage-induced model. VWF knockout mice showed reduced
vegetation formation, particularly in the damage-induced model, while
VWF supplementation restored vegetation development.These results
highlight the critical role of VWF in endocarditis pathogenesis and
suggest potential therapeutic strategies targeting VWF for the
prevention and treatment of IE. Furthermore, our study provides novel
insights into the interplay between VWF and inflammatory responses
during endocarditis progression, opening new avenues for understanding
the complex pathophysiology of this life-threatening condition.