MG53 Protein Protects Aortic Valve Interstitial Cells From Membrane Injury and Fibrocalcific Remodeling

BACKGROUND: The aortic valve of the heart experiences constant mechanical stress under physiological conditions. Maladaptive valve injury responses contribute to the development of valvular heart disease. Here, we test the hypothesis that MG53 (mitsugumin 53), an essential cell membrane repair protein, can protect valvular cells from injury and fibrocalcific remodeling processes associated with valvular heart disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: We found that MG53 is expressed in pig and human patient aortic valves and observed aortic valve disease in aged Mg53−/− mice. Aortic valves of Mg53−/− mice showed compromised cell membrane integrity. In vitro studies demonstrated that recombinant human MG53 protein protects primary valve interstitial cells from mechanical injury and that, in addition to mediating membrane repair, recombinant human MG53 can enter valve interstitial cells and suppress transforming growth factor‐β‐dependent activation of fibrocalcific signaling. CONCLUSIONS: Together, our data characterize valve interstitial cell membrane repair as a novel mechanism of protection against valvular remodeling and assess potential in vivo roles of MG53 in preventing valvular heart disease.