Cardiac dysfunction induced by experimental myocardial infarction impairs the host defense response to bacterial infection in mice because of reduced phagocytosis of Kupffer cells

Cardiac dysfunction induced by myocardial infarction renders mice susceptible to bacterial infection and increases mortality because of a reduced ability of Kupffer cells to clear infectious bacteria. C-reactive protein-enhanced phagocytic activity of Kupffer cells may improve the poor prognosis after bacterial infection in mice with myocardial infarction.