In vitro models of aortic valve calcification: solidifying a system.

摘要: Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) affects 25% of people over 65, and the late-stage stenotic state can only be treated with total replacement, requiring 85,000 surgeries annually in US alone (University Maryland Medical Center, 2013, http://umm.edu/programs/services/heart-center-programs/cardiothoracic-surgery/valve-surgery/facts). As CAVD is an age-related disease, many affected patients are unable to undergo open-chest surgery that its current cure. This challenge motivates elucidation mechanisms involved calcification, eventual goal alternative preventative therapeutic strategies. There no sufficient animal model CAVD, so we turn potential vitro models. In general, models have advantages shortened experiment time better control multiple variables compared vivo all models, hypothesis being tested dictates most important characteristics physiology recapitulate. Here, collate relevant pieces designing evaluating calcification investigators more effectively draw significant conclusions from their results.