title: The cardiac valve interstitial cell.
abstract: Cardiac valve interstitial cells (ICs) are a heterogeneous and dynamic population of specific cell types that have many unique characteristics. They are responsible for maintaining the extracellular scaffold that provides the mechanical characteristics vital for sustaining the unique dynamic behaviour of the valve. A number of cellular phenotypes can be distinguished: some are sparsely arranged throughout the valve leaflets, whilst others are arranged in thin bundles. These cells express molecular markers similar to those of skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and in particular, many ICs express smooth muscle (SM) alpha-actin, a marker of myofibroblasts. In this respect, these cells exhibit a profile unlike skin fibroblasts, which may allude to their role in valve function.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, National Heart and Lung Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine at Harefield Hospital, Heart Science Centre, Middlesex, Harefield, UB9 6JH, UK. patricia.taylor@ic.ac.uk
authors.forename: Patricia M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Puspa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Batten
authors.forename: Nigel J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Brand
authors.forename: Penny S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Magdi H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Yacoub
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D006351:Heart Valves / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D010641:Phenotype
chemical_list: D000199:Actins