Valve Endothelial Cell-Derived Tgfβ1 Signaling Promotes Nuclear Localization of Sox9 in Interstitial Cells Associated...

Aortic valve disease, including calcification, affects >2% of the human population and is caused by complex interactions between multiple risk factors, including genetic mutations, the environment, and biomechanics. At present, there are no effective treatments other than surgery, and this is because of the limited understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the condition. Previous work has shown that valve interstitial cells within the aortic valve cusps differentiate toward an osteoblast-like cell and deposit bone-like matrix that leads to leaflet stiffening and calcific aortic valve stenosis. However, the mechanisms that promote pathological phenotypes in valve interstitial cells are unknown.

Using a combination of in vitro and in vivo tools with mouse, porcine, and human tissue, we show that in valve interstitial cells, reduced Sox9 expression and nuclear localization precedes the onset of calcification. In vitro, Sox9 nuclear export and calcific nodule formation is prevented by valve endothelial cells. However, in vivo, loss of Tgfβ1 in the endothelium leads to reduced Sox9 expression and calcific aortic valve disease.

Together, these findings suggest that reduced nuclear localization of Sox9 in valve interstitial cells is an early indicator of calcification, and therefore, pharmacological targeting to prevent nuclear export could serve as a novel therapeutic tool in the prevention of calcification and stenosis.