The role of elastin on the mechanical properties of the anterior leaflet in porcine tricuspid valves

PLoS One. 2022 May 13;17(5):e0267131. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267131. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Elastin is present in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of connective tissues, and its mechanical properties are well documented. In Marfan syndrome, however, the inability to properly code for the protein fibrillin-1 prematurely leads to the degradation and loss of elastin fiber integrity in the ECM. In this study, the role of elastin in the ECM of the anterior leaflet of the tricuspid valve was investigated by examining the biomechanical behavior of porcine leaflets before and after the application of the enzyme elastase. Five loading protocols were applied to the leaflet specimens in two groups (elastase-treated and control samples). The mechanical response following elastase application yielded a significantly stiffer material in both the radial and circumferential directions. At a physiological level of stress (85 kPa), the elastase group had an average strain of 26.21% and 6.32% in the radial and circumferential directions, respectively, at baseline prior to elastase application. Following elastase treatment, the average strain was 5.28% and 0.97% in the radial and circumferential directions, respectively. No statistically significant change was found in the control group following sham treatment with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Two-photon microscopy images confirmed that after the removal of elastin, the collagen fibers displayed a loss of undulation. With a significant reduction in radial compliance, the ability to withstand physiological loads may be compromised. As such, an extracellular matrix that is structurally deficient in elastin may hinder normal tricuspid valve function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Elastin* / metabolism
  • Extracellular Matrix / metabolism
  • Pancreatic Elastase / metabolism
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Swine
  • Tricuspid Valve*

Substances

  • Elastin
  • Pancreatic Elastase

Grants and funding

This work was supported in part by the American Heart Association (Grant No. 16SDG27770088, PI RA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF CAREER 2049088, PI RA). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.