Chronic Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide induces adverse myocardial infarction wound healing through activation of CD8+ T cells

Although there is a well-documented link between periodontal disease and heart health, the mechanisms are unclear. Our study indicates that in response to circulating periodontal endotoxins, memory CD8+ T cells are activated, resulting in an acceleration of macrophage-mediated inflammation after MI. Blocking activation of effector CD8+ T cells had no effect on the macrophage numbers or wall thinning at post-MI day 1, indicating that this response was likely due in part to memory CD8+ T cells.