Role of cardiac valve interstitial cells in valve repair
Subtitle: deposition of fibronectin and formation of fibrillar adhesions in response to injury.
Published: 2004
Language: eng
Number of pages: 143
Description: Valvular interstitial cells (VICs) organize and maintain the extracellular matrix in normal heart valves and those undergoing repair. Matrix proteins fibronectin and type VIII collagen are expressed during valvulogenesis and in tissues undergoing active remodeling. I hypothesized that fibronectin promotes  in vitro wound repair by forming fibrillar adhesions composed of tensin and the alpha5beta1 integrin and that type VIII collagen deficient VICs close a wound more slowly than do wildtype cells. In response to wounding, migrating VICs reexpressed cytoplasmic fibronectin and deposited fibrils into the extracellular space. Tensin staining localized to fibrillar adhesions while alpha5beta1 stained focal adhesions and as well in a punctate pattern throughout the cell, which may be consistent with fibrillar adhesions. Type VIII collagen deficient VICs showed a reduced rate of wound closure when compared to the wildtype cells. These results suggest that fibronectin and type VIII collagen are important matrix components produced by VICs to regulate cell migration during repair at sites of injury.
Notes: Advisers:  Avrum Gotlieb; Michelle Bendeck.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Toronto, 2004.

Electronic version licensed for access by U. of T. users.

Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 43-03, page: 0767.

MICR copy on microfiche (2 microfiches).