title: Mesenchymal state of intimal cells may explain higher propensity to ascending aortic aneurysm in bicuspid aortic valves.
abstract: Individuals with a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) are at significantly higher risk of developing aortic complications than individuals with tricuspid aortic valves (TAV) and defective signaling during the embryonic development and/or life time exposure to abnormal hemodynamic have been proposed as underlying factors. However, an explanation for the molecular mechanisms of aortopathy in BAV has not yet been provided. We combined proteomics, RNA analyses, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy to identify molecular differences in samples of non-dilated ascending aortas from BAV (N = 62) and TAV (N = 54) patients. Proteomic analysis was also performed for dilated aortas (N = 6 BAV and N = 5 TAV) to gain further insight into the aortopathy of BAV. Our results collectively showed the molecular signature of an endothelial/epithelial-mesenchymal (EndMT/EMT) transition-like process, associated with instability of intimal cell junctions and activation of RHOA pathway in the intima and media layers of ascending aorta in BAV patients. We propose that an improper regulation of EndMT/EMT during the spatiotemporally related embryogenesis of semilunar valves and ascending aorta in BAV individuals may result in aortic immaturity and instability prior to dilation. Exasperation of EndMT/EMT state in post embryonic life and/or exposure to non-physiological hemodynamic could lead to the aneurysm of ascending aorta in BAV individuals.
authors: Cardiovascular Medicine Unit, Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Shohreh
authors: S
authors: Maleki
authors: Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Sanela
authors: S
authors: Kjellqvist
authors: Cardiovascular Medicine Unit, Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Paloschi
authors: Cardiovascular Medicine Unit, Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Joelle
authors: J
authors: Magné
authors: Department of Oncology-Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Rui Miguel Mamede
authors: RM
authors: Branca
authors: Cardiovascular Medicine Unit, Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Lei
authors: L
authors: Du
authors: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Kjell
authors: K
authors: Hultenby
authors: Clinical Physiology, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Johan
authors: J
authors: Petrini
authors: Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Jonas
authors: J
authors: Fuxe
authors: Department of Oncology-Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Janne
authors: J
authors: Lehtiö
authors: Cardiothoracic Surgery Unit, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Anders
authors: A
authors: Franco-Cereceda
authors: Cardiovascular Medicine Unit, Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Per
authors: P
authors: Eriksson
authors: Cardiovascular Medicine Unit, Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Hanna M
authors: HM
authors: Björck
mesh_terms: D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000209:etiology*; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000082882:Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease; D004705:Endocytosis; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008323:Mammary Arteries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology; D020543:Proteome; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000378:metabolism; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology*; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020543:Proteome; D051880:Receptors, Notch; C066737:RHOA protein, human; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein