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: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.
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:The present study aimed to gain insights into the pathological process of Calcific Aortic Valve Disease (CAVD) in CHIP carriers. To this end, we screened for CHIP, by DNA sequencing of blood samples, a cohort of 168 patients with calcified aortic stenosis who had undergone valve replacement via transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) or surgically.
Project description:The aim of the present study was to gain insights on the pathological process of Calcific Aortic Valve Disease in CHIP carriers. To uncover molecular pathways that could link CHIP to CAVD, we exanimated the aortic valve transcriptome from CHIP, non-CHIP patients, or non-calcific controls with RNAseq.
Project description:Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is an increasingly prevalent condition and endothelial dysfunction is implicated in its etiology. We previously identified nitric oxide (NO) as a calcification inhibitor by its activation of NOTCH1, which is genetically linked to human CAVD. Here, we show that NO rescues calcification by a S-nitrosylation-mediated mechanism in porcine aortic valve interstitial cells (pAVICs) and single cell RNA-seq demonstrated regulation of NOTCH pathway by NO. A unbiased proteomic approach to identify S-nitrosylated proteins in valve cells found enrichment of the ubiquitin proteasome pathway and implicated S-nitrosylation of USP9X in NOTCH regulation during calcification. Furthermore, S-nitrosylated USP9X was shown to deubiquitinate and stabilize MIB1 for NOTCH1 activation. Consistent with this, genetic deletion of Usp9x in mice demonstrated aortic valve disease and human calcified aortic valves displayed reduced S-nitrosylation of USP9X. These results demonstrate a novel mechanism by which S-nitrosylation dependent regulation of ubiquitin-associated pathway prevents CAVD.
Project description:Calcific aortic valve disease is the most common form of valvular heart disease in the Western World. Milder degrees of aortic valve calcification is called aortic sclerosis and severe calcification with impaired leaflet motion is called aortic stenosis. We used microarrays to detail the global programme of gene expression underlying cdevelopment of calcified aortic valve disease in humans.
Project description:Calcific Aortic Valve Disease (CAVD) is a common heart valve condition, often characterized by severe narrowing of the aortic valve. It lacks pharmaceutical treatments and typically requires aortic valve replacement surgery, imposing a significant burden on healthcare resources.This study reports the expression profile of circRNAs in the aortic valve tissues of CAVD patients and a normal control group (non-CAVD). We collected aortic valve tissue samples from three CAVD patients who underwent aortic valve replacement surgery due to severe aortic valve stenosis, as well as aortic valve samples from non-CAVD patients who either received heart transplant surgery (recipient heart) or had their aortic valve removed due to aortic dissection. Overall, our research reveals the significant role of circRNAs in the progression of CAVD. CircRNAs, a class of circular non-coding RNA molecules, are actively studied for their functions and regulatory mechanisms within cells. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying CAVD, particularly the potential involvement of circRNAs in this disease.
Project description:Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is a common heart valve disease, yet its underlying mechanism remains pooly understood. We aimed to explore the microRNAs funtion in CAVD and to develop novel miRNA therapy for CAVD.
Project description:Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is the most common valvular heart disease in the aging population, ranging from initial aortic valve sclerosis to advanced aortic valve stenosis (AVS), but its underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. The present study aimed to explore the differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs and genes in CAVD.