Abstract 141: Bicuspid Aortic Valve Hemodynamic Abnormalities Promote Early Development of Calcific Aortic Valve Disease
INTRODUCTION: The bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most common congenital cardiac anomaly and is frequently associated with calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD). Although CAVD also develops in the normal tricuspid aortic valve (TAV), its progression in the BAV is more rapid. While the accelerated calcification of BAV leaflets has been linked to genetic and atherogenic predispositions, hemodynamic abnormalities are increasingly pointed as potential pathogenic contributors. HYPOTHESIS: Supported by our previous work, which demonstrated the sensitivity of valve leaflets to the surrounding blood flow and associated wall-shear stress (WSS), we hypothesize that the abnormal WSS experienced by BAV leaflets contribute to CAVD development by promoting valvular inflammation, remodeling and osteogenic differentiation. OBJECTIVE: This study aims at comparing ex vivo the effects of TAV and BAV leaflet WSS on valvular pathogenesis. METHODS: The native, side-specific WSS experienced by TAV and type-I (i.e., fused and non-coronary) BAV leaflets were obtained computationally using fluid-structure interaction simulations. Fresh porcine leaflets were subjected for 48 hours to each of the three WSS conditions using a novel double-sided shear stress bioreactor. Tissue response was characterized via Western blot and immunohistochemistry in terms of markers of endothelial activation (VCAM-1, ICAM-1), paracrine expression (BMP-4), TGF-β/Wnt signaling pathways (TGF-β1, β-catenin), extracellular matrix remodeling (cathepsin L, MMP-2, MMP-9) and osteogenic differentiation (α-SMA, osteocalcin). RESULTS: No significant differences in VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expressions were detected between tissue exposed to TAV and BAV WSS. While the native WSS experienced by the TAV and non-coronary BAV leaflets maintained tissue homeostasis, tissue exposure to the fused BAV leaflet WSS resulted in a significant pathological response marked by the upregulations of BMP-4, β-catenin, MMP-2 and osteocalcin expressions. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the pathological nature of the native BAV hemodynamics and confirms the higher susceptibility of the fused BAV leaflet to calcify. The results provide new insights into the hemodynamic theory of BAV calcification.