Trimethylamine-N-oxide promotes fibrotic activation of quiescent valvular interstitial cells via endoplasmic reticulum stress.

ABSTRACT: Calcific aortic valve disease currently lacks effective treatments beyond aortic valve replacement, largely due to an incomplete understanding of its pathogenesis. Emerging evidence suggests that the gut microbiome influences cardiovascular health through the production of metabolites derived from dietary components. Among these metabolites, trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) has been identified as a potential causal factor for several cardiovascular conditions. However, its specific role in the development of aortic valve disease remains poorly understood. This study sought to investigate the impact of TMAO on valvular interstitial cells (VICs), the most abundant cell type in the aortic valve. Here, we demonstrate that TMAO activates aortic VICs towards a myofibroblastic phenotype through the

SUBMITTER: Sudi S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12816747 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature