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Differential expression patterns of Toll Like Receptors and Interleukin-37 between calcific aortic and mitral valve

Alkistis Kapelouzou1, Christos Kontogiannis2, Diamantis I Tsilimigras2

  • 1Centre for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.

Cytokine
|February 5, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Aortic and mitral valve calcification differ due to inflammation. Aortic valves show lower Interleukin-37 (IL-37) and higher Toll Like Receptors (TLR) than mitral valves, impacting calcification progression.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Immunology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Calcific valve disease involves inflammation, with Toll Like Receptors (TLR) and Interleukin-37 (IL-37) pathways implicated.
  • Significant differences exist in calcification progression between aortic and mitral valves.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of TLR-mediated inflammation and IL-37 pathway expression in aortic and mitral valve calcification.
  • To compare the expression of inflammatory markers and calcification biomarkers between stenotic aortic and mitral valves.

Main Methods:

  • Histological, immunohistochemistry, and morphometric analysis of 120 stenotic valve cusps (60 aortic, 60 mitral).
  • Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to assess mRNA levels of target genes.

Main Results:

  • Mitral valve leaflets (MVL) showed increased anti-inflammatory IL-37 levels compared to aortic valve cusps (AVCu).
  • Toll Like Receptors (TLR) levels were decreased in MVL compared to AVCu.
  • Osteopontin was the only calcification biomarker that differed between AVCu and MVL.

Conclusions:

  • Stenotic aortic valves exhibit lower IL-37 and higher TLR levels than stenotic mitral valves, indicating distinct pro-calcification and pro-inflammatory profiles.
  • These differential inflammatory profiles may explain the higher incidence of aortic valve calcification and suggest potential therapeutic targets.
Abstract

Keywords:
Aortic valve calcificationInterleukin-37Mitral valve calcificationToll like receptorsValvular heart disease

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