Heart Attacks May Be Triggered by Bacterial Infection,New Research Suggests
Tampere,Finland – A groundbreaking study reveals a potential link between bacterial infection and heart attacks,challenging long-held assumptions about the causes of coronary artery disease. Researchers have discovered genetic material from oral bacteria within atherosclerotic plaques,suggesting infection may play a direct role in triggering myocardial infarction.
The research, conducted by teams at Tampere and Oulu Universities, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, and the University of Oxford, demonstrates that a viral infection or other external trigger can activate bacterial biofilms within arteries. These biofilms then proliferate, initiating an inflammatory response. This inflammation can weaken the fibrous cap of plaque buildup, leading to rupture, thrombus formation, and ultimately, a heart attack.
“Bacterial involvement in coronary artery disease has long been suspected, but direct and convincing evidence has been lacking,” explained Professor Pekka Karhunen, who led the study. “Our study demonstrated the presence of genetic material – DNA – from several oral bacteria inside atherosclerotic plaques.”
The team validated their findings by developing an antibody targeting the identified bacteria, which revealed biofilm structures in arterial tissue. Bacteria released from these biofilms were observed in cases of myocardial infarction, with the body’s immune response to the bacteria triggering the inflammation that ruptured cholesterol-laden plaques.
Previously, it was believed that coronary artery disease was initiated solely by oxidised low-density lipoprotein (LDL). These new findings open avenues for novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies,including the potential for vaccination to prevent both coronary artery disease and heart attacks.
Tissue samples were analyzed from individuals who died of sudden cardiac death, and also from patients undergoing surgery for atherosclerosis in carotid and peripheral arteries. The research was supported by an extensive EU-funded cardiovascular research project spanning 11 countries, alongside funding from the Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research and the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation.