Rationale: Matrix vesicles (MVs), secreted by vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), form
the first nidus for mineralization and fetuin-A, a potent circulating inhibitor of calcification, is …

Mitral valve disease is a frequent cause of heart failure and death. Emerging evidence indicates
that the mitral valve is not a passive structure, but—even in adult life—remains dynamic …

… In the version of this Article originally published online, the first name of the fourth author
was incorrect: it should have read 'Adrian H. Chester'. This error has been corrected in all …

Background— Calcific aortic valve stenosis is a common disease in the elderly and is
characterized by progressive calcification and fibrous thickening of the valve, but the cellular and …

Objective: The synthesis of appropriate extracellular matrix by cells in tissue engineered heart
valve constructs will be important for the maintenance of valve cusp integrity and function. …

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a common cardiac valve disease that affects nearly 1 in 40
individuals 1 , 2 , 3 . It can manifest as mitral regurgitation and is the leading indication for …

Arterial endothelial cells maintain vascular homeostasis and vessel tone in part through the
secretion of nitric oxide (NO). In this study, we determined how aortic valve endothelial cells (…

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare but debilitating disease, which if left
untreated rapidly progresses to right ventricular failure and eventually death. In the quest to …

Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of valve endothelium in regulating
the mechanical properties of aortic valve cusps. Background : Mechanical properties of …

The cells that reside within valve cusps play an integral role in the durability and function of
heart valves. There are principally two types of cells found in cusp tissue: the endothelial …