Human and porcine aortic valve endothelial and interstitial cell isolation and characterization

Abstract

(Figure presented.) Aortic valve cell isolation: a comparative study of endothelial and interstitial cell isolation, and characterization with valvular tissue from porcine and humans. Human aortic valve endothelial cells (hVECs) and interstitial cells (hVICs) as well as porcine aortic valve endothelial cells (pVECs) and interstitial cells (pVICs) were isolated from human explants from patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement or porcine valvular tissue, respectively. To ensure specific cell populations, cells were characterized by marker expression analysis, immunofluorescence staining, and migration, cell viability, apoptosis, and proliferation assays. Additionally, endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) was induced in vitro in hVECs and pVECs and in vitro calcification of hVICs and pVICs. Finally, these results were compared from human cells to porcine cells and provide an alternative cellular model for aortic valve research.