Plasma-Derived Extracellular Vesicle-Propagated microRNA From Aortic Stenosis Patients Render Pro-Calcifying Effects on Valve Interstitial Cells.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) and microRNAs (miRs) have been found to be differently expressed in patients with aortic valve stenosis (AS). Here, we profiled the expression of miRs associated with circulating EVs from severe AS patients and found several altered miRs compared with healthy counterparts. EVs from AS patients induced calcification through expression of the pro-osteogenic genes osteocalcin and osteopontin with corresponding proteins. The expression levels of miR-455-3p and miR-103a-3p were found correlated to the calcification of VICs. Alteration in these miR abrogated osteogenic differentiation of VICs. Additionally, BMP4 and transcriptional factor RUNX2 were found affected by these miRs.