Entelon (vitis vinifera seed extract) reduces degenerative changes in bovine pericardium valve leaflet in a dog intravascular implant model

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Inflammation and calcification are major factors responsible for degeneration of bioprosthetic valve and other substitute heart valve implantations. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-calcification effects of Entelon150(®) (consisting of grape-seed extract) in a beagle dog model of intravascular bovine pericardium implantation. METHODS: In total, 8 healthy male beagle dogs were implanted with a bovine pericardium bilaterally in the external jugular veins and divided into two groups. Animals in the Entelon150(®) group (n = 4) were treated with 150 mg of Entelon150(®) twice daily for six weeks after surgery. The negative control (NC) group (n = 4) was treated with 5 ml of saline using the same method. After six weeks, we measured the calcium content, performed histological examination, and performed molecular analysis. RESULTS: The calcium content of implanted tissue in the Entelon150(®) group (0.56±0.14 mg/g) was significantly lower than that in the NC group (1.48±0.57 mg/g) (p < 0.05). Histopathological examination showed that infiltration of chronic inflammatory cells, such as fibroblasts and macrophages, occurred around the graft in all groups; however, the inflammation level of the implanted tissue in the Entelon150(®) group was s lower than that in the NC group. Both immunohistochemical and western blot analyses revealed that bone morphogenetic protein 2 expression was significantly attenuated in the Entelon150(®) group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that Entelon150(®) significantly attenuates post-implantation inflammation and degenerative calcification of the bovine pericardium in dogs. Therefore, Entelon150(®) may increase the longevity of the bovine pericardium after intravascular implantation.