Genes That Escape X Chromosome Inactivation Modulate Sex Differences in Valve Myofibroblasts.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Aortic valve stenosis is a sexually dimorphic disease, with women often presenting with sustained fibrosis and men with more extensive calcification. However, the intracellular molecular mechanisms that drive these clinically important sex differences remain underexplored.

Methods

Hydrogel biomaterials were designed to recapitulate key aspects of the valve tissue microenvironment and to serve as a culture platform for sex-specific valvular interstitial cells (VICs; precursors to profibrotic myofibroblasts). The hydrogel culture system was used to interrogate intracellular pathways involved in sex-dependent VIC-to-myofibroblast activation and deactivation. RNA sequencing was used to define pathways involved in driving sex-dependent activation. Interventions with sm

SUBMITTER: Aguado BA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8844107 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature