title: Distribution of selected elements in calcific human aortic valves studied by microscopy combined with SR-μXRF: influence of lipids on progression of calcification.
abstract: Calcified heart valves display a significant imbalance in tissue content of trace and essential elements. The valvular calcification is an age-related process and there are data suggesting involvement of lipids. We studied elemental composition and lipid distribution in three distinct regions of calcified human aortic valves, representing successive stages of the calcific degeneration: normal, thickened (early lesion) and calcified (late lesion), using SR-μXRF (Synchrotron Radiation Micro X-Ray Fluorescence) for elemental composition and Oil Red O (ORO) staining for demonstration of lipids. Two-dimensional SR-μXRF maps and precise point spectra were compared with histological stainings on consecutive valve sections to prove topographical localization and colocalization of the examined elements and lipids. In calcified valve areas, accumulation of calcium and phosphorus was accompanied by enhanced concentrations of strontium and zinc. Calcifications preferentially developed in lipid-rich areas of the valves. Calcium concentration ratio between lipid-rich and lipid-free areas was not age-dependent in early lesions, but showed a significant increase with age in late lesions, indicating age-dependent intensification of lipid involvement in calcification process. The results suggest that mechanisms of calcification change with progression of valve degeneration and with age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kopernika 7, 31-034 Krakow, Poland. Electronic address: mmlis@cyf-kr.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Grzegorz J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Lis
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Radzikowskiego 152, 31-342 Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Czapla-Masztafiak
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Radzikowskiego 152, 31-342 Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Wojciech M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Kwiatek
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kopernika 7, 31-034 Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gajda
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kopernika 7, 31-034 Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jasek
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kopernika 7, 31-034 Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jasinska
authors.affiliation: Department of Coronary Disease, Jagiellonian University Medical College, John Paul II Hospital, Pradnicka 80, 31-202 Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Urszula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Czubek
authors.affiliation: Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestraβe 85, D-22607 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borchert
authors.affiliation: Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestraβe 85, D-22607 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Appel
authors.affiliation: Department of Coronary Disease, Jagiellonian University Medical College, John Paul II Hospital, Pradnicka 80, 31-202 Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Jadwiga
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nessler
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac and Vascular Surgery and Transplantology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Pradnicka 80, 31-202 Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sadowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kopernika 7, 31-034 Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Jan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Litwin
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000082882:Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000378:metabolism; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission / Q000379:methods; D013324:Strontium / Q000032:analysis; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D010758:Phosphorus; D015032:Zinc; D013324:Strontium
keywords: Aortic valve; Calcification; Elemental composition; Histology; Lipids; Synchrotron radiation μX-ray fluorescence