Mitral Valve Organ Culture Provides a Novel ExperimentalParadigm

[摘要] Mitral valve diseases and disorders affect tens of thousands of Americans each year, butunderstanding of the disease processes has yet to be fully developed. The behavior andcharacteristics of valve cells and tissue are highly dependent on their surroundingenvironment, including neighboring cells, extracellular matrix composition and 3Dstructure, mechanical forces, and signaling molecules both in the tissue and thecirculation. In order to study native valve behavior and responses, an ex vivo bioreactorsystem was developed to culture whole mitral valves. The organ culture system simulateda physiologically relevant mechanical environment and provided nutrients and gasexchange. Valves cultured in this dynamic system retained more native cell and tissuecharacteristics than valves cultured in a static environment. To utilize this novel tool, astudy was conducted to determine the effects of Angiotensin II on mitral valves, aloneand in combination with the statin drug, Simvastatin.Angiotensin II was found to alter thenative valve composition. Simvastatin inhibited some of these alterations, but accentuatedothers and also affected separate valve characteristics. In conclusion, an organ culturesystem for mitral valves has been designed, characterized, validated, and effectively putto use in a novel study.

[发布机构] Rice University

[效力级别] Biomedical