Finding novel therapies for aortic valve diseases

The heart is a vital organ that orchestrates blood circulation through the body to supply the organs with oxygen and nutrients. This regulation involves the continuous blood flow through the cardiac chambers and valves. One important tissue in this intricate network of chambers and valves is the aortic valve. The aortic valve is positioned between the left ventricle and the aorta, functioning as a gateway to the body thus preventing the retrograde flow of blood from the aorta back to the heart.

Aortic valve dysfunction can lead to aortic valve stenosis, a severe cardiovascular condition most prevalent in elderly individuals that is often fatal if left untreated. To this day, surgical intervention is the only treatment option for severe aortic valve stenosis, lacking preventative or medical alternatives. Thus, unraveling the underlying pathomechanisms of the disease is crucial for advancing early diagnosis and therapeutic strategies.

How does ageing influence the immune system?

The research project of PD Dr. Christina Weisheit from the Department of Anesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care Medicine at the University Hospital Bonn investigates various aspects of aging on the innate and adaptive immune system that ultimately influence the development and progression of aortic valve stenosis. The interesting project was recognised by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and received funding of 600,000 euros.

Aging is one of the most fundamental risk factors in the pathogenesis of aortic valve stenosis as it has a systemic effect on the organism. Aortic stenosis affects one in eight people over the age of 75. At an older age people are at higher risk of developing stiffening of the aortic valve cusps. In addition, they are prone to developing chronic inflammation that causes the activation of the immune system. To this day, it is unclear how chronic inflammation influences the pathogenesis of aortic valve stenosis.

Overall, in collaboration with Dr. Friedrich Felix Hoyer and Prof. Dr. Holger Winkels from the Department of Internal Medicine III at the University Hospital Cologne the research team is eager to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of aortic valve stenosis to lay the groundwork for novel therapies. PD Dr. Weisheit states: “We aim to contribute to the development of biomarkers and immunomodulatory therapies for the future treatment of older patients with aortic valve stenosis.” The project aligns with the DFG Collaborative Research Center TRR259 of the university of Bonn.