Cadherin-11 Overexpression Induces Extracellular Matrix Remodeling and Calcification in Mature Aortic Valves.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Calcific aortic valve (AoV) disease is a significant clinical problem for which the regulatory mechanisms are poorly understood. Enhanced cell-cell adhesion is a common mechanism of cellular aggregation, but its role in calcific lesion formation is not known. Cadherin-11 (Cad-11) has been associated with lesion formation in vitro, but its function during adult valve homeostasis and pathogenesis is not known. This study aims to elucidate the specific functions of Cad-11 and its downstream targets, RhoA and Sox9, in extracellular matrix remodeling and AoV calcification.

Approach and results

We conditionally overexpressed Cad-11 in murine heart valves using a novel double-transgenic Nfatc1(Cre);R26-Cad11(TglTg) mouse model. These mice developed hemodynamically signifi

SUBMITTER: Sung DC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4965289 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature