Project description:The pathogenesis of calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is unknown. XCT790 is a specific inhibitor of estrogen-associated receptor alpha (ERR-alpha) that inhibits valve calcification in mouse models. Here, we designed a nanocarrier targeting osteoblast-differentiated valve interstitial cells (VICs) for targeted delivery of XCT790 to the calcified area. We stimulated osteogenic differentiated VICs with this targeting nanoparticle, and performed RNA-seq to assess transcriptional alterations of VICs and explore specific mechanisms.
Project description:Aortic valve calcification is the most common form of valvular heart disease, but the mechanisms of calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) are unknown. NOTCH1 mutations are associated with aortic valve malformations and adult-onset calcification in families with inherited disease. The Notch signaling pathway is critical for multiple cell differentiation processes, but its role in the development of CAVD is not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular changes that occur with inhibition of Notch signaling in the aortic valve. Notch signaling pathway members are expressed in adult aortic valve cusps, and examination of diseased human aortic valves revealed decreased expression of NOTCH1 in areas of calcium deposition. To identify downstream mediators of Notch1, we examined gene expression changes that occur with chemical inhibition of Notch signaling in rat aortic valve interstitial cells (AVICs). We found significant downregulation of Sox9 along with several cartilage-specific genes that were direct targets of the transcription factor, Sox9. Loss of expression Sox9 has been published to be associated with aortic valve calcification. Utilizing an in vitro porcine aortic valve calcification model system, inhibition of Notch activity resulted in accelerated calcification while stimulation of Notch signaling attenuated the calcific process. Finally, the addition of Sox9 was able to prevent the calcification of porcine AVICs that occurs with Notch inhibition. In conclusion, loss of Notch signaling contributes to aortic valve calcification via a Sox9-dependent mechanism. 3 samples of aortic valve interstitial cells treated with DAPT were compared with 3 samples of aortic valve interstitial cells treated with DMSO
Project description:The role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) remains largely elusive. This study aims to report a novel therapeutic lncRNA, SNHG3, and elucidate its role in CAVD. Based on high-throughput transcriptomic sequencing of human aortic valves, SNHG3 is among the most highly expressed lncRNAs in CAVD. Furthermore, SNHG3 upregulation is verified in human calcified aortic valves, osteoblastic human aortic valve interstitial cells (hVICs), and aortic valve tissues in CAVD mice. Moreover, knockdown of SNHG3 with antisense oligonucleotide markedly ameliorates aortic valve calcification in high cholesterol diet-treated ApoE-/- mice, as evidenced by reduced calcium deposition in the aortic valve leaflets, improved echocardiographic parameters, and decreased osteogenic differentiation markers (RUNX2, osteopontin, and osteocalcin) in aortic valves. Consistent with these in vivo findings, SNHG3 overexpression aggravates the calcification of hVICs, while knockdown of SNHG3 alleviates the process of differential calcification. Transcriptomics sequencing, gene set enrichment analyses, RNA-pull down, RNA immunoprecipitation and chromatin immunoprecipitation-qPCR show that SNHG3 physically interacts with polycomb repressive complex 2 to suppress the H3K27 tri-methylation BMP2 locus, which in turn activates BMP2 expression and signaling pathways. Taken together, SNHG3 promotes aortic valve calcification by upregulating BMP2, which might be a novel therapeutic target in human CAVD.
Project description:Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is an slowly progressive calcification of heart valve which leads to aortic stenosis. The only existing treatment of CAVD is surgical replacment of calcified valve - development of anti-CAVD treatment is urgent task. For better understanding of molecular mechanisms of CAVD progression we performed proteomics analysis of osteogenic differentiation of human valve interstitial cells isolated from healthy humans or patients with CAVD.
Project description:Aortic valve calcification is a significant and serious clinical problem for which there are no effective medical treatments. Individuals born with bicuspid aortic valves, 1-2% of the population, are at the highest risk of developing aortic valve calcification. Aortic valve calcification involves increased levels of calcification and inflammatory genes. Bicuspid aortic valve leaflets experience increased strain. The molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of calcification of BAVs are not well understood, especially the molecular response to mechanical stretch. HOTAIR is a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) that has been implicated with cancer but has not been studied in cardiac disease. We have found that HOTAIR levels are decreased in BAVs and in human aortic interstitial cells (AVICs) exposed to cyclic stretch. Reducing HOTAIR levels via siRNA in AVICs results in increased expression of calcification genes.
Project description:Aortic valve calcific disease (CAVD) is a common heart valve condition typically characterized by severe narrowing of the aortic valve. Our previous research has shown that circHIPK3 is downregulated in calcified aortic valve tissues and plays a role in regulating the progression of CAVD. To further investigate how circHIPK3 exerts its inhibitory effects on aortic valve calcification, we overexpressed circHIPK3 in aortic valve interstitial cells and conducted RNA-seq analysis, revealing that circHIPK3 regulates key factors in the Wnt signaling pathway. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying CAVD, particularly the potential involvement of circRNAs in this disease.
Project description:Aortic valve calcifications are often associated with calcium deposition and tissue mineralization, resulting in stiffness and dysfunction. To better understand the diversity of molecular and cellular processes for calcification in valve structures, we isolated human aortic valve interstitial cells (AVICs) and exposed them to calcification stimulation. RNA-seq revealed that in response to calcified stimuli, AVIC activates a robust ossification program, although the signaling pathways, cellular processes, and osteogenesis-related markers involved are diverse. In conclusion, this study provides a wealth of information suggesting that the pathogenesis of aortic valve calcification may be much more than previously understood.
Project description:Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) primarily involves osteogenic differentiation in human aortic valve interstitial cells (hVICs). Schisandrol B (SolB), a natural bioactive constituent, has known therapeutic effects on inflammatory and fibrotic disorders. However, its impact on valve calcification has not been reported. Transcriptome sequencing was used to analyze potential molecular pathways affected by SolB treatment. To explore the therapeutic mechanism of SolB, human valve interstitial cells were induced to undergo osteogenic differentiation by OM, with or without SolB treatment meanwhile. Among the signaling pathways enriched, the P53 signaling pathway was identified as the upstream regulator of other enriched pathways such as Cell cycle, Oocyte meiosis, Cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions. These pathways were regulated by the P53 signaling pathway and were reported to be stimulated by DNA damage, an early stage of pathological change in CAVD. The cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction signaling pathway was reported to correlate with calcified aortic valve disease. taken together, our data revealed potential therapitic mechanism p53 signaling of Schisandrol B treatment in hVICs calcification.
Project description:Although calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS) is the most prevalent valvular heart disease, the molecular mechanisms underlying aortic valve calcification remain unknown. Here, we found a significant elevation in stanniocalcin-1 (STC1) expression in the valve interstitial cells (VICs) of calcific aortic valves by combined analysis of our comprehensive gene expression data and microarray datasets reported previously. Immunohistochemical staining showed that STC1 was located around the calcific area in the aortic valves of patients with CAVS. In vitro experiments using inhibitors and siRNA targeting osteoblast differentiation signaling revealed that activation of the Akt/STC1 axis was essential for runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) induction in the VICs. RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis of STC1-knocked down VICs in osteoblast differentiation medium resulted in silencing of the induction of osteoarthritis signaling-related genes, including RUNX2 and COL10A1. STC1 depletion in the murine CAVS model improved aortic valve dysfunction with high peak velocity and valve thickening and suppressed the appearance of osteochondrocytes. STC1-deficient mice also exhibited complete calcification abolishment, although partial valve thickening by aortic valve injury was observed. Our findings suggest that STC1 may be a critical factor in determining valve calcification and a novel target for preventing the transition to severe CAVS with calcification. We analyzed the gene expression profiles of the valve interstitial cells (VICs) isolated from noncalcific and calcific areas in calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS) donors using a gene microarray.