Proteolytic Degradation Is a Major Contributor to Bioprosthetic Heart Valve Failure

BACKGROUND: Whereas the risk factors for structural valve degeneration (SVD) of glutaraldehyde‐treated bioprosthetic heart valves (BHVs) are well studied, those responsible for the failure of BHVs fixed with alternative next‐generation chemicals remain largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the reasons behind the development of SVD in ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether–treated BHVs. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ten ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether–treated BHVs excised because of SVD, and 5 calcified aortic valves (AVs) replaced with BHVs because of calcific AV disease were collected and their proteomic profile was deciphered. Then, BHVs and AVs were interrogated for immune cell infiltration, microbial contamination, distribution of matrix‐degrading enzymes and their tissue inhibitors, lipid deposition, and calcification. In contrast with dysfunctional AVs, failing BHVs suffered from complement‐driven neutrophil invasion, excessive proteolysis, unwanted coagulation, and lipid deposition. Neutrophil infiltration was triggered by an asymptomatic bacterial colonization of the prosthetic tissue. Neutrophil elastase, myeloblastin/proteinase 3, cathepsin G, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs; neutrophil‐derived MMP‐8 and plasma‐derived MMP‐9), were significantly overexpressed, while tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases 1/2 were downregulated in the BHVs as compared with AVs, together indicative of unbalanced proteolysis in the failing BHVs. As opposed to other proteases, MMP‐9 was mostly expressed in the disorganized prosthetic extracellular matrix, suggesting plasma‐derived proteases as the primary culprit of SVD in ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether–treated BHVs. Hence, hemodynamic stress and progressive accumulation of proteases led to the extracellular matrix degeneration and dystrophic calcification, ultimately resulting in SVD. CONCLUSIONS: Neutrophil‐ and plasma‐derived proteases are responsible for the loss of BHV mechanical competence and need to be thwarted to prevent SVD.