title: Valvular myofibroblast activation by transforming growth factor-beta: implications for pathological extracellular matrix remodeling in heart valve disease.
abstract: The pathogenesis of cardiac valve disease correlates with the emergence of muscle-like fibroblasts (myofibroblasts). These cells display prominent stress fibers containing alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and are believed to differentiate from valvular interstitial cells (VICs). However, the biological factors that initiate myofibroblast differentiation and activation in valves remain unidentified. We show that transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) mediates differentiation of VICs into active myofibroblasts in vitro in a dose-dependent manner, as determined by a significant increase in alpha-SMA and the dramatic augmentation of stress fiber formation and alignment. Additionally, TGF-beta1 and increased mechanical stress function synergistically to enhance contractility. In turn, contractile valve myofibroblasts exert tension on the extracellular matrix, resulting in a dramatic realignment of extracellular fibronectin fibrils. TGF-beta1 also inhibits valve myofibroblast proliferation without enhancing apoptosis. Our results are consistent with activation of a highly contractile myofibroblast phenotype by TGF-beta1 and are the first to connect valve myofibroblast contractility with pathological valve matrix remodeling. We suggest that the activation of contractile myofibroblasts by TGF-beta1 may be a significant first step in promoting alterations to the valve matrix architecture that are evident in valvular heart disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
authors.forename: Gennyne A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Kristyn S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Masters
authors.forename: Darshita N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Kristi S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Anseth
authors.forename: Leslie A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Leinwand
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003094:Collagen; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000187:drug effects; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006351:Heart Valves / Q000473:pathology*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D051381:Rats; D022502:Stress Fibers / Q000378:metabolism*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D003094:Collagen