Mechanical Strain and the Aortic Valve: Influence on Fibroblasts, Extracellular Matrix, and Potential Stenosis

A specific pattern of extracellular matrix protein expression was found in relation to mechanical strain on human aortic valve cusp tissue and in mechanically stimulated human valvular fibroblasts. This new insight into the process of aortic valve degeneration may be important for further therapeutic approaches to ameliorate the progression or even the initiation of potential aortic valve stenosis.