Profibrotic VEGFR3-Dependent Lymphatic Vessel Growth in Autoimmune Valvular Carditis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Rheumatic heart disease is the major cause of valvular heart disease in developing nations. Endothelial cells (ECs) are considered crucial contributors to rheumatic heart disease, but greater insight into their roles in disease progression is needed.

Methods

We used a Cdh5-driven EC lineage-tracing approach to identify and track ECs in the K/B.g7 model of autoimmune valvular carditis. Single-cell RNA sequencing was used to characterize the EC populations in control and inflamed mitral valves. Immunostaining and conventional histology were used to evaluate lineage tracing and validate single-cell RNA-sequencing findings. The effects of VEGFR3 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3) and VEGF-C (vascular endothelial growth factor C) inhibitors were tes

SUBMITTER: Osinski V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10978259 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature