Gut-Heart Axis and Infective Endocarditis: How Microbiota Dysbiosis Shapes Cardiovascular Risk and Infection...

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Cardiology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• The gut-heart axis is crucial for cardiovascular health.
• Intestinal dysbiosis can cause chronic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, increasing cardiovascular disease (CV) risk.
• Microbiota alterations may drive bacterial translocation, leading to infective endocarditis (IE).

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the scientific evidence linking gut microbiota to cardiovascular diseases, focusing on IE.
• To summarize mechanisms of gut barrier dysfunction, immune activation, and microbiota metabolites in CV disease.
• To explore preventive and therapeutic strategies involving microbiota modulation.

Main Methods:

• Narrative review of current scientific literature.
• Examination of mechanisms connecting gut microbiota to CV disease and IE.
• Analysis of potential therapeutic interventions.

Main Results:

• Gut dysbiosis is implicated in systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, contributing to CV diseases.
• Bacterial translocation from the gut is a key factor in infective endocarditis development.
• Microbiota-derived metabolites and impaired gut barrier integrity play significant roles in CV pathogenesis.

Conclusions:

• The gut microbiota significantly impacts cardiovascular health and diseases, particularly IE.
• Understanding the gut-heart axis offers novel therapeutic targets for CV conditions.
• Microbiota modulation and personalized medicine show promise for preventing and treating CV diseases.