Abstract 20908: Notch Signalling in Pathogenesis of Calcified Aortic Valve

Introduction: Calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS) is the most common form of acquired valvular disease. A progressive mineralization of aortic valve leaflets is a major culprit in the development of CAVS. CAVS was believed to be a passive degenerative disease, but recent research has shown that it is actually an active, complex inflammatory-like process, reminding atherosclerosis. Cumulative evidence from recent studies shows that loss-of-function polymorphisms and mutations in NOTCH1 are strongly associated with early calcification of aortic valves in humans, but the role of Notch signaling and the mechanisms that may contribute to CAVS remains unknown. Hypothesis: The aim of the study was to assess the expression level of Notch signaling components and osteogenic differentiation genes in human aortic valvular interstitial cells (VIC) and in human aortic valvular endothelial cells (VEC) derived from the CAVS patients and to assess relationship between clinical and laboratory characteristics of the pati...