CARDIAC-VALVE INTERSTITIAL-CELLS - REGULATOR OF VALVE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

Cardiac valve interstitial cell tissue is present throughout the valve . The molecular biology of this cell type is not well known. The purpo se of this review is to present our current understanding of the struc ture and function of valvular interstitial cells and to describe exper imental approaches available to study the structure and regulation of interstitial cell function and the interaction of interstitial cells w ith the valve matrix and with the surface endocardial endothelial cell s. Data available to date suggest that valvular interstitial cells are contractile, have some of the characteristic features of smooth muscl e cells, communicate with each other, secrete valvular matrix, regulat e repair processes follow ing valve injury, and exhibit heterogeneous phenotypes. Further studies are required to understand the regulation of structure and function of these cells in both health and disease. T his information will indeed be useful in preventing valvular disease, in improving the design of therapeutic surgical valve reconstruction, and in designing prosthetic valves. (C) 1997 by Elsevier Science Inc.