Cardiomyopathy is associated with structural remodelling of heart valve extracellular matrix.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

To increase the supply, many countries harvest allograft valves from explanted hearts of transplant recipients with ischaemic (ICM) or dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). This study determines the structural integrity of valves from cardiomyopathic hearts.

Methods and results

Extracellular matrix (ECM) was examined in human valves obtained from normal, ICM, and DCM hearts. To confirm if ECM changes were directly related to the cardiomyopathy, we developed a porcine model of chronic ICM. Histology and immunohistostaining, as well as non-invasive multiphoton and second harmonic generation (SHG) imaging revealed marked disruption of ECM structures in human valves from ICM and DCM hearts. The ECM was unaffected in valves from normal and acute ICM pigs, whereas chronic ICM specime

SUBMITTER: Schenke-Layland K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2742784 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature