Robust Generation of Quiescent Porcine Valvular Interstitial Cell Cultures.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Valvular interstitial cells (VICs) in the healthy aortic valve leaflet exhibit a quiescent phenotype, with <5% of VICs exhibiting an activated phenotype. Yet, in vitro culture of VICs on tissue culture polystyrene surfaces in standard growth medium results in rapid transformation to an activated phenotype in >90% of cells. The inability to preserve a healthy VIC phenotype during in vitro studies has hampered the elucidation of mechanisms involved in calcific aortic valve disease. This study describes the generation of quiescent populations of porcine VICs in 2-dimensional in vitro culture and their utility in studying valve pathobiology.

Methods and results

Within 4 days of isolation from fresh porcine hearts, VICs cultured in standard growth conditions were predo

SUBMITTER: Porras AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5524027 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature