Development of an optimal protocol for the proteomic analysis of stenotic and healthy aortic valves.
OBJECTIVE
For many years, degenerative aortic stenosis was thought to be a passive process secondary to calcium deposition in aortic valves. Although its etiology remains unknown, several authors have pointed out that degenerative aortic stenosis is associated with the same risk factors as coronary artery disease. Furthermore, histological similarities have been found between aortic valve stenosis and atherosclerotic plaque, giving rise to the hypothesis that degenerative aortic stenosis is an inflammatory process similar to atherosclerosis. Nevertheless, some data do not fit with this hypothesis and, consequently, greater understanding of the condition is needed. The main aim of this study was to develop a practical protocol for extracting protein for use in proteomic analysis from both stenotic and healthy aortic valves.


METHODS
The study was carried out using a number of different proteomic methods: two-dimensional electrophoresis, mass spectrometry and additional techniques.


RESULTS
We developed a simple and reproducible methodology in the laboratory for carrying out the proteomic analysis of human aortic valves and for identifying their component proteins.


CONCLUSIONS
We developed a simple and reproducible method for extracting protein that can be used with mass spectrometry and that makes it possible to carry out large-scale proteomic analysis of stenotic aortic valves. Furthermore, the methodology will significantly increase our understanding of the valve proteome.
Gil-Dones
Félix
F
Laboratorio de Fisiopatología Vascular, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, SESCAM, Toledo, Spain.
Martín-Rojas
Tatiana
T
López-Almodovar
Luis F
LF
Juárez-Tosina
Rocío
R
de la Cuesta
Fernando
F
Alvarez-Llamas
Gloria
G
Alonso-Orgaz
Sergio
S
Vivanco
Fernando
F
Rodríguez-Padial
Luis
L
Barderas
María G
MG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000235:genetics*; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D040901:Proteomics