Focusing on the Native Matrix Proteins in Calcific Aortic Valve Stenosis

• Published in: JACC. Basic to translational science 2023-08, Vol.8 (8), p.1028-1039
• Main Authors: Anousakis-Vlachochristou, Nikolaos, Athanasiadou, Dimitra, Carneiro, Karina M.M., Toutouzas, Konstantinos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: State-of-the-Art Review
• ISSN: 2452-302X; 2452-302X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jacbts.2023.01.009

• CAVS remains without pharmaceutical therapy. • Sustained destruction and defective remodeling of the ECM, facilitates cellular activation and osteoblastic differentiation. • Altered mechanical function of the valve has a direct impact on ECM remodeling and osteoblastic differentiation. • Diverse and complex phases of calcium phosphate depositions are found in the lesion. • Calcification development is tightly related to native ECM protein alterations, where further research is needed. Calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS) is a widespread valvular heart disease affecting people in aging societies, primarily characterized by fibrosis, inflammation, and progressive calcification, leading to valve orifice stenosis. Understanding the factors associated with CAVS onset and progression is crucial to develop effective future pharmaceutical therapies. In CAVS, native extracellular matrix proteins modifications, play a significant role in calcification in vitro and in vivo. This work aimed to review the evidence on the alterations of structural native extracellular matrix proteins involved in calcification development during CAVS and highlight its link to deregulated biomechanical function.