Valvular Interstitial Cells: Physiology, Isolation, and Culture

Abstract

Valvular interstitial cells (VICs) are the primary cellular component of the heart valve. Their function is to maintain the structure of the valve leaflets as they endure some three billion beats in the course of a human lifespan. Valvular pathology is becoming ever more prevalent in our ageing world, and there has never been a greater need for understanding of the pathological processes that underpin these diseases. Despite this, our knowledge of VIC pathology is limited. The scientific enquiry of valve disease necessitates stable populations of VICs in the laboratory. Such populations are commonly isolated from porcine and human tissue. This is achieved by digesting valve tissue from healthy or diseased sources. Understanding of the many VIC phenotypes, and the biochemical cues that govern the transition between phenotypes is essential for experimental integrity. Here we present an overview of VIC physiology, and a tried-and-true method for their isolation and culture. We make mention of several biochemical cues that the researcher may use in their culture media to ensure high quality and stable VIC populations.