Inflammatory Regulation of Valvular Remodeling: The Good(?), the Bad, and the Ugly

Figure 1

Inflammation and its signaling partners are involved in every stage of the heart valve life cycle, from embryonic morphogenesis (top), quiescent adult valve homeostasis (middle), and in valve pathology (bottom). Many structural and biological features of diseased valves resemble those from embryonic/fetal valves, suggesting similar signaling pathways are reactivated. Identifying and controlling these pathways represents an important and challenging task with potential for large payoff for heart valve disease diagnosis and treatment.