The aortic valve microenvironment and its role in calcific aortic valve disease

Cardiovasc Pathol. 2011 May-Jun;20(3):177-82. doi: 10.1016/j.carpath.2010.12.001. Epub 2011 Jan 20.

Abstract

In calcific aortic valve disease, fibrotic and calcific lesions form focally in the fibrosa layer of the valve leaflets. Layer-specific pathosusceptibility suggests that the fibrosa microenvironment is permissive to pathological development. The cellular microenvironment in the aortic valve is defined by a variety of biomechanical-, biochemical-, and extracellular-mediated factors, some of which are unique to the fibrosa. Growing evidence supports the role of these microenvironmental cues in the local regulation of side-specific valve cell phenotypes and focal pathological alterations, revealing new insights into the cellular and molecular processes that contribute to calcific aortic valve disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aortic Valve / metabolism*
  • Aortic Valve / pathology
  • Calcinosis / metabolism*
  • Calcinosis / pathology
  • Fibrosis
  • Heart Valve Diseases / metabolism*
  • Heart Valve Diseases / pathology
  • Humans
  • Phenotype
  • Signal Transduction