Kamenshchyk A, Gonchar M, Oksenych V, Kamyshnyi A. Association of
Myocardial Changes and Gene Expression of the
NFATC1 and
NFATC4-Calcineurin Signaling Pathway in Children with Bicuspid Aortic Valve.
Children (Basel) 2023;
10:1434. [PMID:
37761395 PMCID:
PMC10529938 DOI:
10.3390/children10091434]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The role of NFATC gene expression in bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) progression is not fully understood. The aim of this study is to determine the significance of NFATC1 and NFATC4 gene expression for myocardial changes in children with BAV.
METHODS
In 47 children with BAV, the standard Doppler echocardiographic characteristics were detected, and the expression of the NFATC1 and NFATC4 genes was studied.
RESULTS
Posterior wall thickness in diastole (PWTd) and aortic valve peak pressure gradient (AoPPG) in BAV patients were significantly higher compared to healthy controls (PWTd median (min-max), 9 (7-10) mm vs. 7 (6-8) mm; and AoPPG median (min-max), 7.79 (2.98-15.09) mm Hg vs. 2.94 (2.42-3.72) mm Hg). The expression of the NFATC1 gene in BAV children was significantly higher compared to NFATC4 (NFATC1 median (min-max); 70.88 (8.79-106.51) e.u. vs. 7.72 (1.74-22.67) e.u., respectively p < 0.05). A significant correlation of NFATC1 expression with Ao found (R = +0.53, p < 0.05). In BAV patients with PWTd > 8 mm and Ao > 21 mm the NFATC1 expression was significantly higher compared to those with PWTd ≤ 8 mm and Ao ≤ 21 mm (NFATC1 median (min-max); 45.49 (5.01-101.52) e.u. vs. 15.53 (2.36-44.40) e.u., p < 0.05 and 81.11 (20.27-101.10) e.u. mm vs. 12.16 (2.40-45.49) e.u., p < 0.05, respectively).
CONCLUSION
In children with BAV the high expression of the NFATC1 calcineurin signaling pathway gene is associated with elevated PWTd and Ao.
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