Increased interleukin-18 expression in nonrheumatic aortic valve stenosis.
BACKGROUND
It is unknown whether interleukin-18 (IL-18) participates in the pathophysiology of nonrheumatic aortic stenosis (NR-AS).


METHODS
We examined IL-18 expression in human NR-AS valves by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis.


RESULTS
Immunohistochemistry revealed that NR-AS valves showed increased IL-18 expression compared with controls. IL-18 receptor was also expressed in NR-AS valves. Western blot analysis showed that IL-18 was expressed as an active form in NR-AS valves. Furthermore, increased IL-18 expression was correlated with the advanced clinical severity of NR-AS.


CONCLUSIONS
IL-18 was expressed in the aortic valves and up-regulated in NR-AS valves. IL-18 may contribute to the pathophysiology of NR-AS.
Naito
Yoshiro
Y
Tsujino
Takeshi
T
Wakabayashi
Kana
K
Matsumoto
Mika
M
Ohyanagi
Mitsumasa
M
Mitsuno
Masataka
M
Miyamoto
Yuji
Y
Hao
Hiroyuki
H
Hirota
Seiichi
S
Okamura
Haruki
H
Masuyama
Tohru
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000737:chemistry; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
D020382:Interleukin-18