An Inverse Modeling Approach to Estimate Three-Dimensional Aortic Valve Interstitial Cell Stress Fiber Force Levels.

ABSTRACT: Within the aortic valve (AV) leaflet exists a population of interstitial cells (AVICs) that maintain the constituent tissues by extracellular matrix (ECM) secretion, degradation, and remodeling. AVICs can transition from a quiescent, fibroblast-like phenotype to an activated, myofibroblast phenotype in response to growth or disease. AVIC dysfunction has been implicated in AV disease processes, yet our understanding of AVIC function remains quite limited. A major characteristic of the AVIC phenotype is its contractile state, driven by contractile forces generated by the underlying stress fibers (SF). However, direct assessment of the AVIC SF contractile state and structure within physiologically mimicking three-dimensional environments remains technically challenging, as the size of single

SUBMITTER: Khang A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10680985 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature