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Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is one of the most common degenerative cardiac diseases affecting humans and dogs; however, its pathogenesis is not completely understood. This study focussed on developing tissue-engineered fibrin based canine mitral valve constructs, which can be used as an in vitro platform to study the pathogenesis of MMVD. Prior to three dimensional (3D) construct fabrication, primary canine mitral valve endothelial cells (VECs) and valve interstitial cells (VICs) were isolated, cultured and characterized utilising a variety of techniques. Moreover, preliminary experiments were carried out to optimise the purity of VEC cultures. It is uncertain if canine MMVD is initiated by long term shear stress damage to the valve endothelium or from abnormalities of VICs. To investigate both hypotheses, three types of models were produced using fibrin/based 3D culture techniques: healthy VEC-VIC co-culture (Type 1); healthy VEC-diseased VIC co-culture (Type 2); healthy VEC-VIC co-culture with endothelial damage during culture (Type 3). Histological examination demonstrated partial native tissue-like morphology of the 3D constructs. Results suggest that current static cultured constructs express MMVD markers irrespective of using healthy or diseased VICs. Simple mechanical stimulation was found to regulate VIC activity in the 3D models. Endothelial damage resulting in VIC phenotypic activation (a change typically observed in MMVD), and decreased mechanical tension appeared to be a negative regulator of this effect. Moreover, there appears to be heterogeneity in the activated VIC population. Additionally, distinct advanced glycation end product (AGE) carboxymethyllysine (CML) expression was found in canine MMVD valves, which suggesting this biochemical compound (known to affect long living protein) might be a putative regulator of MMVD pathogenesis. The role of CML in MMVD can be further investigated utilizing current 3D static mitral valve construct model in future studies. Lastly a prototype dynamic tubular construct and a customised bioreactor system were developed. Preliminary data suggest the feasibility of tubular construct fabrication and endothelialisation, which provides foundation for future dynamic conditioning experiments and will allow examination of the role of endothelial shear stress in triggering MMVD. In summary, this project successfully developed fibrin based canine mitral valve constructs. It is believed they are promising models for MMVD research, allowing new insights in understanding MMVD pathogenesis.

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) occurs through multiple mutually non-exclusive mechanisms that are mediated by valvular interstitial cells (VICs). VICs undergo pathological differentiation during the progression of valve calcification; however the factors that regulate cellular differentiation are not well defined. Most commonly recognized are biochemical factors that induce pathological differentiation, but little is known regarding the biochemical factors that may suppress this process. Further, the contribution of matrix mechanics in valve pathology has been overlooked, despite increasing evidence of close relationships between changes in tissue mechanics, disease progression and the regulation of cellular response. In this thesis, the effect of matrix stiffness on the differentiation of and calcification by VICs in response to pro-calcific and anti-calcific biochemical factors was investigated. Matrix stiffness modulated the response of VICs to pro-calcific factors, leading to two distinct calcification processes. VICs cultured on the more compliant matrices underwent calcification via osteoblast differentiation, whereas those cultured on the stiffer matrices were prone to myofibroblast differentiation. The transition of fibroblastic VICs to myofibroblasts increased cellular contractility, which led to contraction-mediated, apoptosis-dependent calcification. In addition, C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), a putative protective molecule against CAVD, was identified. CNP supressed myofibroblast and osteoblast differentiation of VICs, and thereby inhibited calcification in vitro. Matrix stiffness modulated the expression of CNP-regulated transcripts, with only a small number of CNP-regulated transcripts not being sensitive to matrix mechanics. These data demonstrate the combined effects of mechanical and biochemical cues in defining VIC phenotype and responses, with implications for the interpretation of in vitro models of VIC calcification and possibly disease devleopment. The findings from this thesis emphasize the necessity to consider both biochemical and mechanical factors in order to improve fundamental understanding of VIC biology.

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is associated with significant cardiovascular morbidity. While late-stage valve disease is well-described, there remains an unmet scientific need to elucidate early pathobiological processes. In CAVD, pathological differentiation of valvular interstitial cells (VICs) and lesion formation occur focally in the fibrosa layer. This VIC pathological differentiation has been shown to be influenced by matrix stiffness in vitro. However, little is known about the focal layer specific mechanical properties of the aortic valve in health and disease and how these changes in matrix moduli may influence VIC pathological differentiation in vivo. In this thesis, micropipette aspiration (MA) was shown to be capable of measuring the mechanical properties of a single layer in multilayered biomaterial or tissue such as the aortic valve, if the pipette inner diameter was less than the top layer thickness. With MA, the fibrosa of normal porcine aortic valves was significantly stiffer than the ventricularis; stiffer locations found only within the fibrosa were comparable to stiffnesses shown in vitro to be permissive to VIC pathological differentiation. Early CAVD was induced in a porcine model, which developed human-like early CAVD lesion onlays. Extracellular matrix remodeling occurred in the absence of lipid deposition, macrophages, osteoblasts, or myofibroblasts, but with significant proteoglycan-rich onlays and chondrogenic cell presence. These early onlays were softer than the collagen-rich normal fibrosa, and their proteoglycan content was positively correlated with Sox9 chondrogenic expression, suggesting that soft proteoglycan-rich matrix may be permissive to chondrogenic VIC differentiation. The findings from this thesis shed new light on early disease pathogenesis and improve the fundamental understanding of aortic valve mechanics in health and disease.

A doença valvar crônica de mitral (DVCM) é a principal cardiopatia adquirida dos cães e uma das suas complicações é a hipertensão arterial pulmonar (HAP), o que pode induzir a disfunção do ventriculo direito (VD). Assim, constituíram-se em objetivos do presente estudo identificar e descrever alterações de tamanho do VD, padrão de fluxo na artéria pulmonar (AP) e função sistólica ventricular direita nas diferentes fases da DVCM, além de correlacionar estas variáveis com índices de tamanho, volume, funções sistólica e diastólica do lado esquerdo do coração, bem como com a velocidade da insuficiência tricúspide (IT) e gradiente de pressão entre o ventrículo e átrio direitos nos cães que apresentavam regurgitação da valva tricúspide. Para tanto, foram incluídos 96 cães de diversas raças no estudo, que foram separados em quatro grupos de acordo com o estágio da DVCM: grupos ou estágios A, B1, B2 e C. Os cães com DVCM sintomáticos ou em estágio C apresentaram alterações no fluxo da artéria pulmonar (AP), bem evidenciadas pela redução das suas velocidades máxima e média, além da redução dos tempos de aceleração (TAC) e ejeção (TEJ) do fluxo sistólico da AP e correlação negativa com as variáveis de tamanho e funções sistólica e diastólica do coração esquerdo. O tamanho do VD foi estatisticamente maior nos animais do estágio C em comparação aos do estágio B1 e associou-se, negativamente, com os índices de função sistólica ventricular esquerda (VE). Os índices de função sistólica do VD como índice de excursão sistólica do plano anular tricúspide (iTAPSE) e variação fracional de área (FAC) foram maiores nos estágios mais avançados da DVCM e, juntamente com a velocidade de movimentação miocárdica sistólica do anel valvar tricúspide (onda Sm), correlacionou-se com índices de funções sistólica e diastólica do VE, seguindo o mesmo padrão de aumento de movimentação e estado hipercinético das variáveis do lado esquerdo do coração na evolução da DVCM. O padrão de fluxo sistólico da AP, bem caracterizado pelo TAC e TEJ, e o índice de área doVD foram os índices que mais alteraram com a evolução da hipertensão pulmonar na DVCM, enquanto que os índices de função do VD não apresentaram alterações significativas neste modelo de hipertensão arterial pulmonar em cão / Chronic mitral valvular disease (CMVD) is the most important acquired heart disease of dogs, and has as one of its complications, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), which can lead to dysfunction of the right ventricle (RV). So, the objectives of the present study was to identify and describe changes in size, flow pattern in the pulmonary artery (PA) and RV systolic function at different stages of CMVD, and to correlate these variables with size, volume, systolic and diastolic function of left side of the heart, as well as the velocity of tricuspid insufficiency (TI) and pressure gradient between RV and right atrium in dogs thad had tricuspid valve regurgitation. For this purpose, 96 dogs of various breeds were included in the study, and they have been separated into 4 groups according to the stage of DVCM: group or stage A, B1, B2 and C. Dogs with symptomatic DVCM or stage C showed changes in the flow of PA, well evidenced by the reduction of the maximum and mean velocity flow of PA, besides the reduction of the acceleration (ACT) and ejection (EJT) times of systolic flow and negative correlation with the variables of size and systolic and diastolic function of the left heart. The RV size was statistically higher in the C stage of animals compared to stage B1; it was negatively associated with indices of left ventricular systolic function (LV). The systolic function indexes as index of tricuspide annular plane systolic excursion (ITAPSE) and fractional area change(FAC) were higher in more advanced stages of CMVD, and together with systolic myocardial movement of the tricuspid valve annulus velocity (wave Sm), correlated with indices of systolic and diastolic function of the left ventricle, following the same pattern of increase and hyperkinetic movement state variables of the left side of the heart in the evolution of DVCM. The pattern of systolic flow of the AP, well characterized by ACT and EJT, and RV area index are the variables that altered with the development of pulmonary hypertension in DVCM, while RV function indices showed no significant changes in this model of PAH in dogs

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) occurs through multiple mutually non-exclusive mechanisms that are mediated by valvular interstitial cells (VICs). VICs undergo pathological differentiation during the progression of valve calcification; however the factors that regulate cellular differentiation are not well defined. Most commonly recognized are biochemical factors that induce pathological differentiation, but little is known regarding the biochemical factors that may suppress this process. Further, the contribution of matrix mechanics in valve pathology has been overlooked, despite increasing evidence of close relationships between changes in tissue mechanics, disease progression and the regulation of cellular response. In this thesis, the effect of matrix stiffness on the differentiation of and calcification by VICs in response to pro-calcific and anti-calcific biochemical factors was investigated. Matrix stiffness modulated the response of VICs to pro-calcific factors, leading to two distinct calcification processes. VICs cultured on the more compliant matrices underwent calcification via osteoblast differentiation, whereas those cultured on the stiffer matrices were prone to myofibroblast differentiation. The transition of fibroblastic VICs to myofibroblasts increased cellular contractility, which led to contraction-mediated, apoptosis-dependent calcification. In addition, C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), a putative protective molecule against CAVD, was identified. CNP supressed myofibroblast and osteoblast differentiation of VICs, and thereby inhibited calcification in vitro. Matrix stiffness modulated the expression of CNP-regulated transcripts, with only a small number of CNP-regulated transcripts not being sensitive to matrix mechanics. These data demonstrate the combined effects of mechanical and biochemical cues in defining VIC phenotype and responses, with implications for the interpretation of in vitro models of VIC calcification and possibly disease devleopment. The findings from this thesis emphasize the necessity to consider both biochemical and mechanical factors in order to improve fundamental understanding of VIC biology.

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is associated with significant cardiovascular morbidity. While late-stage valve disease is well-described, there remains an unmet scientific need to elucidate early pathobiological processes. In CAVD, pathological differentiation of valvular interstitial cells (VICs) and lesion formation occur focally in the fibrosa layer. This VIC pathological differentiation has been shown to be influenced by matrix stiffness in vitro. However, little is known about the focal layer specific mechanical properties of the aortic valve in health and disease and how these changes in matrix moduli may influence VIC pathological differentiation in vivo. In this thesis, micropipette aspiration (MA) was shown to be capable of measuring the mechanical properties of a single layer in multilayered biomaterial or tissue such as the aortic valve, if the pipette inner diameter was less than the top layer thickness. With MA, the fibrosa of normal porcine aortic valves was significantly stiffer than the ventricularis; stiffer locations found only within the fibrosa were comparable to stiffnesses shown in vitro to be permissive to VIC pathological differentiation. Early CAVD was induced in a porcine model, which developed human-like early CAVD lesion onlays. Extracellular matrix remodeling occurred in the absence of lipid deposition, macrophages, osteoblasts, or myofibroblasts, but with significant proteoglycan-rich onlays and chondrogenic cell presence. These early onlays were softer than the collagen-rich normal fibrosa, and their proteoglycan content was positively correlated with Sox9 chondrogenic expression, suggesting that soft proteoglycan-rich matrix may be permissive to chondrogenic VIC differentiation. The findings from this thesis shed new light on early disease pathogenesis and improve the fundamental understanding of aortic valve mechanics in health and disease.

Orientador: Domingo Marcolino Braile / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-07T03:55:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Antoniali_Fernando_M.pdf: 4775200 bytes, checksum: 8361f227d501574e0c98c3965065c58b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: Objetivo: Determinar a proporção existente entre os segmentos do anel da valva tricúspide normal em humanos. Método: Foram estudados 30 corações de cadáveres humanos não formolizados, com menos de 6h de período ¿post-mortem¿, sem lesões congênitas ou adquiridas e com valvas tricúspides sem deformidades e continentes. A continência desta valva foi confirmada por injeção de água sob pressão no interior do ventrículo direito estando a valva pulmonar fechada. Foram realizadas fotos digitais da valva tricúspide com o anel valvar íntegro e após secção na comissura póstero-septal e retificação do anel valvar. Estas fotos contendo escalas milimetradas foram avaliadas por programa específico de computador. Foram feitas medidas computadorizadas do perímetro, segmento septal e segmento ântero-posterior do anel valvar íntegro. Nesta condição também foram feitas medidas da distância linear entre as comissuras ântero-septal e póstero-septal. Na condição de anel valvar retificado, foram realizadas medidas computadorizadas e manuais do perímetro e dos segmentos septal, anterior e posterior do anel valvar tricuspídeo. Compararam-se as medidas médias e as razões entre elas nas condições de anel íntegro e retificado. Compararam-se, também, a forma computadorizada e manual de mensuração do anel. Resultados: Nas medidas computadorizadas realizadas com imagens digitais do anel valvar íntegro, os valores médios do perímetro, segmento septal e ântero-posterior foram 105mm (±12,7), 30,6mm (±3,7) e 74mm (±9,4), respectivamente. A distância linear média entre as comissuras ântero-septal e póstero-septal foi de 28,9mm (±3,4). Nas medidas computadorizadas realizadas com imagens digitais do anel valvar retificado, os valores médios foram 117,5mm (±13,3), 32mm (±3,7), 46,3mm (±8,3) e 39,1mm (±8,5), respectivamente para perímetro, segmento septal, anterior e posterior. A razão média entre o segmento ântero-posterior e o septal foi 2,43 (±0,212) e 2,67 (±0,304) respectivamente em anéis íntegros e retificados. Houve diferenças significantes entre as medidas do perímetro (p<0,0001), do segmento septal (p=0,003) e do segmento ântero-posterior (p<0,0001) quando realizadas em anéis íntegros e retificados. As razões entre segmento ântero-posterior e septal também apresentaram diferença significante (p=0,0005). As medidas manuais do anel valvar retificado apresentaram os valores médios de 118,5mm (±12,7), 32,6mm (±3,4), 46,6mm (±7,7) e 39,3mm (±7,9), respectivamente para perímetro, segmento septal, anterior e posterior. Não houve diferenças significantes entre medidas manuais e computadorizadas. Conclusões: A proporção existente entre os segmento septal e o segmento ântero-posterior, do anel da valva tricúspide normal em humanos, é igual a 1 : 2,43. A secção e retificação do anel tricuspídeo altera as medidas de seus segmentos e suas relações / Abstract: Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the proportion among the segments of the human tricuspid valve annulus. Methods: Descriptive autopsy study of 30 human hearts, without fixation, with less than six hours of post-mortem period, without congenital or acquired lesions and without tricuspid regurgitation. The tricuspid valve insufficiency was excluded by infusion of pressured water in the right ventricle with closed pulmonary valve. Digital images of the tricuspid ring on anatomical position and on flattened state were analyzed by specific software. Computerized measurements of the perimeter, septal segment, anteroposterior segment and the linear distance between the anteroseptal and posteroseptal commissures were obtained on anatomical position. Computerized and manual measurements of the perimeter, septal, anterior and posterior segments were obtained on flattened state. The measurements were demonstrated and compared on the two different situations, anatomical position and flattened. The computerized measurements were compared with the manual ones. Results: The mean values of the perimeter, septal and anteroposterior segments of the tricuspid ring, obtained by computerized measurements on anatomical position were: 105mm (±12.7), 30.6mm (±3.7) e 74mm (±9.4), respectively. The mean linear distance between the anteroseptal and posteroseptal commissures was 28.9mm (±3.4). On the flattened state and by computerized measurements, the mean value of the perimeter was 117.5mm (±13.3) and of the septal, anterior e posterior segments were respectively: 32mm (±3.7), 46.3mm (±8.3) e 39.1mm (±8.5). The mean ratio between the antero-posterior and septal segments was 2.43 (±0.212) on the anatomical position and on flattened state was 2.67 (±0.304). Statistical differences were observed in the measurements of perimeter (p<0.0001), septal segment (p=0.003) e antero-posterior segment (p<0.0001) on the two situations. Statistical difference also occurred on the ratios between the antero-posterior and septal segments (p=0.0005). The mean values obtained by manual measurements of the tricuspid ring on flattened state were: 118.5mm (±12.7), 32.6mm (±3.4), 46.6mm (±7.7) e 39.3mm (±7.9), respectively for perimeter, septal, anterior and posterior segments. There weren¿t statistical differences on computerized and manual measurements. Conclusions: The proportion between the septal and antero-posterior segments of the normal human tricuspid valve is 1 : 2.43. The attitude of flatting the tricuspid ring to measure the segments, changes their values and the ratios between them / Mestrado / Cirurgia / Mestre em Cirurgia

A doença valvar crônica de mitral (DVCM) é a principal cardiopatia adquirida dos cães e uma das suas complicações é a hipertensão arterial pulmonar (HAP), o que pode induzir a disfunção do ventriculo direito (VD). Assim, constituíram-se em objetivos do presente estudo identificar e descrever alterações de tamanho do VD, padrão de fluxo na artéria pulmonar (AP) e função sistólica ventricular direita nas diferentes fases da DVCM, além de correlacionar estas variáveis com índices de tamanho, volume, funções sistólica e diastólica do lado esquerdo do coração, bem como com a velocidade da insuficiência tricúspide (IT) e gradiente de pressão entre o ventrículo e átrio direitos nos cães que apresentavam regurgitação da valva tricúspide. Para tanto, foram incluídos 96 cães de diversas raças no estudo, que foram separados em quatro grupos de acordo com o estágio da DVCM: grupos ou estágios A, B1, B2 e C. Os cães com DVCM sintomáticos ou em estágio C apresentaram alterações no fluxo da artéria pulmonar (AP), bem evidenciadas pela redução das suas velocidades máxima e média, além da redução dos tempos de aceleração (TAC) e ejeção (TEJ) do fluxo sistólico da AP e correlação negativa com as variáveis de tamanho e funções sistólica e diastólica do coração esquerdo. O tamanho do VD foi estatisticamente maior nos animais do estágio C em comparação aos do estágio B1 e associou-se, negativamente, com os índices de função sistólica ventricular esquerda (VE). Os índices de função sistólica do VD como índice de excursão sistólica do plano anular tricúspide (iTAPSE) e variação fracional de área (FAC) foram maiores nos estágios mais avançados da DVCM e, juntamente com a velocidade de movimentação miocárdica sistólica do anel valvar tricúspide (onda Sm), correlacionou-se com índices de funções sistólica e diastólica do VE, seguindo o mesmo padrão de aumento de movimentação e estado hipercinético das variáveis do lado esquerdo do coração na evolução da DVCM. O padrão de fluxo sistólico da AP, bem caracterizado pelo TAC e TEJ, e o índice de área doVD foram os índices que mais alteraram com a evolução da hipertensão pulmonar na DVCM, enquanto que os índices de função do VD não apresentaram alterações significativas neste modelo de hipertensão arterial pulmonar em cão / Chronic mitral valvular disease (CMVD) is the most important acquired heart disease of dogs, and has as one of its complications, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), which can lead to dysfunction of the right ventricle (RV). So, the objectives of the present study was to identify and describe changes in size, flow pattern in the pulmonary artery (PA) and RV systolic function at different stages of CMVD, and to correlate these variables with size, volume, systolic and diastolic function of left side of the heart, as well as the velocity of tricuspid insufficiency (TI) and pressure gradient between RV and right atrium in dogs thad had tricuspid valve regurgitation. For this purpose, 96 dogs of various breeds were included in the study, and they have been separated into 4 groups according to the stage of DVCM: group or stage A, B1, B2 and C. Dogs with symptomatic DVCM or stage C showed changes in the flow of PA, well evidenced by the reduction of the maximum and mean velocity flow of PA, besides the reduction of the acceleration (ACT) and ejection (EJT) times of systolic flow and negative correlation with the variables of size and systolic and diastolic function of the left heart. The RV size was statistically higher in the C stage of animals compared to stage B1; it was negatively associated with indices of left ventricular systolic function (LV). The systolic function indexes as index of tricuspide annular plane systolic excursion (ITAPSE) and fractional area change(FAC) were higher in more advanced stages of CMVD, and together with systolic myocardial movement of the tricuspid valve annulus velocity (wave Sm), correlated with indices of systolic and diastolic function of the left ventricle, following the same pattern of increase and hyperkinetic movement state variables of the left side of the heart in the evolution of DVCM. The pattern of systolic flow of the AP, well characterized by ACT and EJT, and RV area index are the variables that altered with the development of pulmonary hypertension in DVCM, while RV function indices showed no significant changes in this model of PAH in dogs

Les pathologies valvulaires aortiques sont des pathologies plurifactorielles, comportant un déterminisme génétique indiscutable mais peu caractérisé. Ma thèse a pour but d’étudier le rôle du facteur de transcription Krox20 au cours du développement et de la maturation valvulaire à travers l’analyse de modèles murins. Nous avons montré que ce gène est nécessaire au développement et à la maturation de la valve aortique. L’invalidation de Krox20 chez la souris conduit à une hypertrophie des feuillets aortiques dès les stades fœtaux et à des insuffisances aortiques chez l’adulte. Ces anomalies sont associées à des défauts d’organisation de la matrice extracellulaire en partie liée à une régulation directe de l’expression des collagènes de type I et III. 25% des souris déficientes pour Krox20 présentent une bicuspidie de la valve aortique. Nous avons observé une diminution de l’expression de eNos chez ces mutants et pu mettre en évidence une interaction génétique entre Krox20 et eNos. De plus, nous avons identifié une sous population de cellules des crêtes neurales cardiaques impliquées dans l’apparition de la bicuspidie chez les mutants Krox20. Afin d’explorer le rôle de Krox20 dans la calcification de la valve aortique, nous avons étudié les conséquences de la surexpression de ce gène dans un modèle et montré que lcela induisait une activation de gènes pro-fibrotiques et pro-ostéogénique sans conduire à des dépôts calciques. Krox20 est donc un facteur de transcription important pour la valvulogenèse et à l’homéostasie valvulaire chez l’adulte. Mes travaux ont contribué à l’identification de Krox20 comme gène candidat potentiel aux valvulopathies rencontrées chez l’homme. / Long seen as a consequence of aging and mechanical wear of aortic cusps, aortic valve diseases are currently considered multifactorial diseases, with an indisputable genetic determinism but not well characterized. My thesis aims to study the role of the transcription factor Krox20 during development and maturation of the valve through the analysis of mouse models. We have shown that this gene is necessary for the development and maturation of the aortic valve. Indeed, the deletion of Krox20 in the mouse leads to thickened aortic leaflets from the fetal stage and the onset of aortic valve disease in adults. These anomalies are associated with defects in the organization of the extracellular matrix and more particularly to direct regulsation of collagen type I and type III expression. Our analysis showed that 25% Krox20-/- mice have a bicuspid aortic valve. The analysis of this model has allowed us to identify a population of cardiac neural crest cells involved in the occurrence of this phenotype. In addition, we were able to observe a down regulation of eNos in Krox20-/- embryos and show a genetic interaction between Krox20 and eNos. To address the role of Krox20 in the process of calcification of the aortic valve, we have studied the effects of its overexpression. Our preliminary results indicate that this overexpression leads to activation of pro-fibrotic and pro-osteogenic genes, however, this is not sufficient to induce calcification of aortic valve leaflets.Therefore Krox20 is important for valvulogenesis but also for valvular homeostasis in the adult. My work has contributed to the identification of a potential candidate gene involved in human valve diseases.