Increase in tissue and circulating pentraxin3 levels in patients with aortic valve stenosis.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Inflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of nonrheumatic aortic valve stenosis (AS). Pentraxin3 (PTX3) is produced at the inflammatory site; however, tissue and circulating PTX3 levels in patients with AS remain largely unknown. METHODS: We enrolled 84 patients who received aortic replacement surgery due to AS (n = 53) or aortic regurgitation (AR; n = 31). PTX3 expression in aortic valves was evaluated in patients with AS and AR by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. We further investigated circulating PTX3 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels in patients with AS, AR, and age-matched controls. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical and Western blot analyses revealed that PTX3 was expressed in aortic valves. PTX3 expression was increased in AS valves compared with control and AR valves. Strong PTX3 immunoreactivity was found particularly in macrophages of AS valves. Plasma PTX3 levels were increased in patients with AS than in those with AR and controls, while serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels did not differ among three groups. Moreover, plasma PTX3 levels were positively correlated with the amounts of PTX3 expression in aortic valves. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated for the first time that tissue and plasma PTX3 levels were increased in patients with AS. These findings suggest that PTX3 may participate in the pathophysiology of AS.