TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of constant static pressure on the biological properties of porcine aortic valve leaflets
AU - Xing, Yun
AU - He, Zhaoming
AU - Warnock, James N.
AU - Hilbert, Stephen L.
AU - Yoganathan, Ajit P.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors appreciate the efforts of Jim McEntee of J.M. Machining (Lawrenceville, GA) for assistance in the design and construction of the pressure chamber. The authors also thank Mr Holifield for providing pig hearts for the research and Daniel Conway for his technical assistance. This work was supported primarily by the National Science Foundation through the ERC Program at Georgia Tech under Award Number EEC-9731643.
PY - 2004/4
Y1 - 2004/4
N2 - An understanding of how mechanical forces impact cells within valve leaflets would greatly benefit the development of a tissue-engineered heart valve. In this study, the effect of constant ambient pressure on the biological properties of heart valve leaflets was evaluated using a custom-designed pressure system. Native porcine aortic valve leaflets were exposed to static pressures of 100, 140, or 170 mmHg for 48 h. Collagen synthesis, DNA synthesis, sulfated glycoaminoglycan (sGAG) synthesis, α-SMC actin expression, and extracellular matrix (ECM) structure were examined. Results showed that elevated pressure caused an increase in collagen synthesis. This increase was not statistically significant at 100 mmHg, but at 140 mmHg and 170 mmHg collagen synthesis increased by 37.5 and 90%, respectively. No significant difference in DNA or sGAG synthesis was observed at elevated pressures, with the exception that DNA synthesis at 100 mmHg decreased. A notable decline in α-SMC actin was observed over the course of the experiments although no significant difference was observed between the pressure and control groups. It was concluded that elevated pressure caused a proportional increase in collagen synthesis of porcine aortic valve leaflets, but was unable to preserve α-SMC actin immunoreactive cells.
AB - An understanding of how mechanical forces impact cells within valve leaflets would greatly benefit the development of a tissue-engineered heart valve. In this study, the effect of constant ambient pressure on the biological properties of heart valve leaflets was evaluated using a custom-designed pressure system. Native porcine aortic valve leaflets were exposed to static pressures of 100, 140, or 170 mmHg for 48 h. Collagen synthesis, DNA synthesis, sulfated glycoaminoglycan (sGAG) synthesis, α-SMC actin expression, and extracellular matrix (ECM) structure were examined. Results showed that elevated pressure caused an increase in collagen synthesis. This increase was not statistically significant at 100 mmHg, but at 140 mmHg and 170 mmHg collagen synthesis increased by 37.5 and 90%, respectively. No significant difference in DNA or sGAG synthesis was observed at elevated pressures, with the exception that DNA synthesis at 100 mmHg decreased. A notable decline in α-SMC actin was observed over the course of the experiments although no significant difference was observed between the pressure and control groups. It was concluded that elevated pressure caused a proportional increase in collagen synthesis of porcine aortic valve leaflets, but was unable to preserve α-SMC actin immunoreactive cells.
KW - Aortic valve leaflets
KW - Collagen synthesis
KW - Tissue engineering
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=2642560471&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1023/B:ABME.0000019175.12013.8f
DO - 10.1023/B:ABME.0000019175.12013.8f
M3 - Article
C2 - 15117029
AN - SCOPUS:2642560471
SN - 0090-6964
VL - 32
SP - 555
EP - 562
JO - Annals of Biomedical Engineering
JF - Annals of Biomedical Engineering
IS - 4
ER -