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Updated: Sep 23, 2025

Calcification of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Imaging of Aortic Calcification and Inflammation
Published on: May 31, 2016
Differential BMP Signaling Mediates the Interplay Between Genetics and Leaflet Numbers in Aortic Valve Calcification
Jae-Joon Jung1,2, Azmi A Ahmad1,2, Saranya Rajendran1,2
1Section of Cardiovascular Medicine and Cardiovascular Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Abstract:
Expression of a neuropilin-like protein, DCBLD2, is reduced in human calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD). DCBLD2-deficient mice develop bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and CAVD, which is more severe in BAV mice compared with tricuspid littermates. In vivo and in vitro studies link this observation to up-regulated bone morphogenic protein (BMP)2 expression in the presence of DCBLD2 down-regulation, and enhanced BMP2 signaling in BAV, indicating that a combination of genetics and BAV promotes aortic valve calcification and stenosis. This pathway may be a therapeutic target to prevent CAVD progression in BAV.
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