Progenitor Cells Confer Plasticity to Cardiac Valv

Authors: Joyce Bischoff Elena Aikawa

Publish Date: 2011/07/26

Volume: 4, Issue: 6, Pages: 710-719

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Abstract

The endothelium covering the aortic pulmonary mitral and tricuspid valves looks much like the endothelium throughout the vasculature in terms of general morphology and expression of many endothelial markers Closer examination however reveals important differences and hints of a unique phenotype that reflects the valvular endotheliums embryonic history and potentially its ability to maintain integrity and function over a life span of dynamic mechanical stress A wellstudied property that sets the cardiac valvular endothelium apart is the ability to transition from an endothelial to a mesenchymal phenotype—an event known as epithelial to mesenchymal transition EMT EMT is a critical step during embryonic valvulogenesis it can occur in postnatal valves and has recently been implicated in the adaptive response of mitral valve leaflets exposed to a controlled in vivo setting designed to mimic the leaflet tethering that occurs in ischemic mitral regurgitation In this review we will discuss what is known about valvular endothelial cells with a particular focus on postnatal adult valves We will put forth the idea that at subset of valvular endothelial cells are progenitor cells which may serve to replenish valvular cells during normal cellular turnover and in response to injury and disease

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