Osteopontin activity modulates sex-specific calcification in engineered valve tissue mimics.

ABSTRACT: Patients with aortic valve stenosis (AVS) have sexually dimorphic phenotypes in their valve tissue, where male valvular tissue adopts a calcified phenotype and female tissue becomes more fibrotic. The molecular mechanisms that regulate sex-specific calcification in valvular tissue remain poorly understood. Here, we explored the role of osteopontin (OPN), a pro-fibrotic but anti-calcific bone sialoprotein, in regulating the calcification of female aortic valve tissue. Recognizing that OPN mediates calcification processes, we hypothesized that aortic valvular interstitial cells (VICs) in female tissue have reduced expression of osteogenic markers in the presence of elevated OPN relative to male VICs. Human female valve leaflets displayed reduced and smaller microcalcifications, but increased

SUBMITTER: Schroeder ME 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9842038 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature