Lowering plasma cholesterol levels halts progression of aortic valve disease in mice.
BACKGROUND
Treatment of hyperlipidemia produces functional and structural improvements in atherosclerotic vessels. However, the effects of treating hyperlipidemia on the structure and function of the aortic valve have been controversial, and any effects could be confounded by pleiotropic effects of hypolipidemic treatment. The goal of this study was to determine whether reducing elevated plasma lipid levels with a "genetic switch" in Reversa mice (Ldlr-/-/Apob(100/100)/Mttp(fl/fl)/Mx1-Cre+/+) reduces oxidative stress, reduces pro-osteogenic signaling, and retards the progression of aortic valve disease.


RESULTS
After 6 months of hypercholesterolemia, Reversa mice exhibited increases in superoxide, lipid deposition, myofibroblast activation, calcium deposition, and pro-osteogenic protein expression in the aortic valve. Maximum aortic valve cusp separation, as judged by echocardiography, was not altered. During an additional 6 months of hypercholesterolemia, superoxide levels, valvular lipid deposition, and myofibroblast activation remained elevated. Furthermore, calcium deposition and pro-osteogenic gene expression became more pronounced, and the aortic cusp separation decreased from 0.85+/-0.04 to 0.70+/-0.04 mm (mean+/-SE; P<0.05). Rapid normalization of cholesterol levels at 6 months of age (by inducing expression of Cre recombinase) normalized aortic valve superoxide levels, decreased myofibroblast activation, reduced valvular calcium burden, suppressed pro-osteogenic signaling cascades, and prevented reductions in aortic valve cusp separation.


CONCLUSIONS
Collectively, these data indicate that reducing plasma lipid levels by genetic inactivation of the mttp gene in hypercholesterolemic mice with early aortic valve disease normalizes oxidative stress, reduces pro-osteogenic signaling, and halts the progression of aortic valve stenosis.
Miller
Jordan D
JD
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. jordan-miller@uiowa.edu
Weiss
Robert M
RM
Serrano
Kristine M
KM
Brooks
Robert M
RM
Berry
Christopher J
CJ
Zimmerman
Kathy
K
Young
Stephen G
SG
Heistad
Donald D
DD
D000818:Animals; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D018450:Disease Progression; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D018384:Oxidative Stress
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008055:Lipids; C106092:microsomal triglyceride transfer protein; D002784:Cholesterol