Growth and maturation of heart valves leads to changes in endothelial cell distribution, impaired function, decreased metabolism and reduced cell proliferation.

ABSTRACT: Risk factors of heart valve disease are well defined and prolonged exposure throughout life leads to degeneration and dysfunction in up to 33% of the population. While aortic valve replacement remains the most common need for cardiovascular surgery particularly in those aged over 65, the underlying mechanisms of progressive deterioration are unknown. In other cardiovascular systems, a decline in endothelial cell integrity and function play a major role in promoting pathological changes, and while similar mechanisms have been speculated in the valves, studies to support this are lacking. The goal of this study was to examine age-related changes in valve endothelial cell (VEC) distribution, morphology, function and transcriptomes during critical stages of valve development (embryonic), growt

SUBMITTER: Anstine LJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5154817 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature