Collagen Fibrillogenesis in the Mitral Valve: It’s a Matter of Compliance
Richard L. Goodwina✉, Arash Kheradvarb, Russell A. Norrisc, Robert L. Priced, Jay D. Pottsd
- aDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine Greenville, University of South Carolina, Greenville, SC 29605, USA
- bDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, The Henry Samueli School of Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- cDepartment of Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
- dDepartment of Cell Biology and Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, Greenville, SC 29605, USA
- ✉Corresponding author
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Abstract
Collagen fibers are essential structural components of mitral valve leaflets, their tension apparatus (chordae tendineae), and the associated papillary muscles. Excess or lack of collagen fibers in the extracellular matrix (ECM) in any of these structures can adversely affect mitral valve function. The organization of collagen fibers provides a sophisticated framework that allows for unidirectional blood flow during the precise opening and closing of this vital heart valve. Although numerous ECM molecules are essential for the differentiation, growth, and homeostasis of the mitral valve (e.g., elastic fibers, glycoproteins, and glycans), collagen fibers are key to mitral valve integrity. Besides the inert structural components of the tissues, collagen fibers are dynamic structures that drive outside-to-inside cell signaling, which informs valvular interstitial cells (VICs) present within the tissue environment. Diversity of collagen family members and the closely related collagen-like triple helix-containing proteins found in the mitral valve, will be discussed in addition to how defects in these proteins may lead to valve disease.