Extracellular matrix fiber microarchitecture is region-specific in bicuspid aortic valve-associated ascending aortopathy.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm (ATAA) in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) commonly dilate asymmetrically compared with patients with tricuspid aortic valve (TAV). This discrepancy in aneurysm geometry led us to hypothesize that microarchitectural differences underlie the observed asymmetric dilatation pattern. The purpose of this study was to characterize the microarchitectural distinctions of the extracellular matrix of the 2 phenotypes with a focus on the proportion of radially oriented elastin and collagen fibers in different circumferential aortic regions.

Methods

Aortic tissue rings were obtained just distal to the sinotubular junction from patients with BAV or TAV undergoing elective aneurysm repair. They were sectioned into three circumferential

SUBMITTER: Tsamis A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4875874 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature