Presence of B cells within aortic valves in patients with aortic stenosis: Relation to severity of the disease. Issue 1 (January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Natorska, Joanna; Marek, Grzegorz; Sadowski, Jerzy; Undas, Anetta
• Is Part Of: Journal of cardiology. Volume 67:Issue 1(2016:Jan.)
• Page Start: 80
• Page End: 85
• Publication Date: 2016-01
• Subjects: Aortic stenosis -- Inflammation -- Calcification -- B cells; Cardiology -- Periodicals; 616.12
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jjcc.2015.05.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0914-5087

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Aortic stenosis (AS) shares several similarities with atherosclerosis. Recent reports showed that B cells are implicated in atherosclerosis progression through macrophage–B cells bidirectional interaction. We aimed to study the in loco presence of B cells within aortic valves and to determine its modulators. Methods: Thirty-seven patients with severe AS were studied. Immunohistochemistry was performed on valve leaflets using antibodies against CD20, B cell-activating factor of the tumor necrosis factor family receptor (BAFF-R) and CD68. Plasma inflammatory markers were also determined. Results: The B cells were detected within aortic leaflets from 5 to 31/mm 2 (17.9 ± 11.6/mm 2 ). Double-staining showed that 27 ± 13.5% of B cells express BAFF-R. There were positive correlations between the number of B cells and macrophages ( r = 0.45, p = 0.018), and between macrophages and B cell-associated BAFF-R expression ( r = 0.66, p = 0.002). The number of B cells was associated with the valve calcification ( r = 0.41, p = 0.039), and with the maximum transvalvular gradient ( r = 0.63, p = 0.02). The BAFF-R expression was positively correlated with maximum transvalvular gradient ( r = 0.39, p = 0.031) and negatively with aortic valve area ( r = −0.41, p = 0.048). There were no correlations between the number of B cells and plasma markers. Conclusions: It might be hypothesized that, like in atherosclerosis, increasing number of B cells within aortic valves may accelerate inflammation and thus potentiate the progression of AS.