Critical Role of Coaptive Strain in Aortic Valve Leaflet Homeostasis: Use of a Novel Flow Culture Bioreactor to Explore Heart Valve Mechanobiology.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Aortic valve (AV) disease presents critical situations requiring surgery in over 2% of the US population and is increasingly the reason for cardiac surgery. Throughout the AV cycle, mechanical forces of multiple types and varying intensities are exerted on valve leaflets. The mechanisms whereby forces regulate leaflet homeostasis are incompletely understood. We used a novel flow bioreactor culture to investigate alteration of AV opening or closure on leaflet genes.

Methods and results

Culture of rat AV was conducted in a flow bioreactor for 7 days at 37°C under conditions approximating the normal stroke volume. Three force condition groups were compared: Cycling (n=8); always open (Open; n=3); or always closed (Closed; n=5). From each culture, AV leaflets were poo

SUBMITTER: Maeda K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5015277 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature