Proinflammatory cytokine production and leukocyte adhesion molecule expression of endothelial cells in response to Abiotrophia defectiva infection.

Abiotrophia defectiva, one of the oral streptococci, possessed a relatively higher adhesive ability to the cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) as well as fibronectin and vitronectin than other oral streptococci tested. Further, A. defectiva induced HUVEC to produce IL-8 and TNF-α, and subsequently to express E-selectin, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. Thus, A. defectiva entering into blood streams could adhere to endothelial cells and induce proinflammatory responses through cytokine productions and leukocyte adhesion molecule expressions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]